Vermont's Delete Act: H 211 Data Broker Bill Passes the House — What It Means for Businesses

What Is Vermont H 211?

Vermont H 211 is a comprehensive data broker regulation bill that would overhaul the state’s existing data broker registration law — the first of its kind in the nation when Vermont enacted it in 2019. The bill passed the full Vermont House on March 25, 2026, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs on March 27.

If enacted, Vermont would become only the second state after California to create a universal data deletion portal, allowing residents to submit a single deletion request that covers all registered data brokers at once.

Key Provisions of H 211

Universal Data Deletion Portal

The signature provision of H 211 is a state-run online portal where Vermont residents can submit a single deletion request that applies to all registered data brokers simultaneously. Currently, consumers who want to remove their personal data must contact each data broker individually — a process that can mean hundreds of separate requests given that 283 data brokers are registered in Vermont.

This mirrors the approach of California’s Delete Act (SB 362), which is building its own universal deletion mechanism scheduled to launch in 2026.

Enhanced Registration Requirements

H 211 significantly strengthens Vermont’s existing data broker registration regime:

Registration fee increase — Annual fee jumps from \$100 to \$900 per year, a 9x increase intended to fund the deletion portal infrastructure.
Certification requirements — Data brokers must certify that the personal information they collect is used for legitimate purposes.
Breach notification — Strengthened security breach notification obligations for data brokers.

Deletion Upon Request

Data brokers would be required to delete personal information within a specified timeframe upon consumer request. This goes well beyond Vermont’s current registration-only approach, which requires brokers to register and disclose their practices but does not mandate data deletion.

Enforcement

The Vermont Attorney General retains enforcement authority. Violations may result in civil penalties. The bill also treats violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices under Vermont consumer protection law.

How Vermont H 211 Compares to California’s Delete Act

Feature	Vermont H 211	California Delete Act (SB 362)
Universal deletion portal	Yes	Yes (launching 2026)
Annual registration fee	\$900/year	\$400–\$500/year
Single-request deletion	One request covers all brokers	One request covers all brokers
Existing registration law	Since 2019 (first in US)	Since 2023
Number of registered brokers	283	500+
Enforcement	State AG	CPPA

For more on California’s approach, see our California Delete Act business guide and data broker registration requirements overview.

What This Means for Data Brokers

Businesses that buy, sell, or license the personal information of Vermont residents — without having a direct relationship with those consumers — should take the following steps:

Check your data broker status — Under Vermont law, a “data broker” is a business that knowingly collects and sells or licenses brokered personal information of consumers with whom it does not have a direct relationship. If that describes any part of your operation, you likely qualify.
Budget for higher registration fees — The jump from \$100 to \$900 per year is significant, especially for smaller operators.
Build deletion infrastructure — The universal portal means you will need to process bulk deletion requests efficiently. Invest in automated deletion workflows now.
Audit your data inventory — Know exactly what personal data you hold, where it comes from, and how long you retain it.

See our data broker opt-out guide for more on how consumers and businesses interact under these regimes.

What This Means for Consumers

Vermont residents would gain a powerful new tool: a single online portal to request deletion of their personal data from all 283 (and growing) registered data brokers at once. No more tracking down individual opt-out pages. No more filling out dozens of separate forms.

This is particularly significant given that deletion rights under state privacy laws typically require consumers to make requests directly to each company. The universal portal approach is a major step toward making privacy rights practical and usable.

Legislative Timeline and Next Steps

Here is where H 211 stands in the legislative process:

March 13 — Passed Vermont House Commerce Committee, 9–2
March 20 — Passed House Ways and Means Committee
March 25 — Passed the full Vermont House
March 27 — Referred to Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
Mid-May — Vermont legislative session ends; Senate must act before then
July 2026 — Projected effective date if signed into law

The bill has strong momentum after clearing the House. Senate action in the coming weeks will determine its fate.

The Bigger Picture: Data Broker Regulation Is Accelerating

Vermont H 211 is part of a broader national trend toward stricter data broker regulation. Several states are moving in parallel:

California — The Delete Act (SB 362) established a universal deletion mechanism and is building the infrastructure for launch in 2026.
Oregon — The Oregon Consumer Privacy Act includes provisions specifically targeting data brokers and their registration obligations.
Connecticut SB 4 — Would add data broker registration requirements to the CTDPA, along with facial recognition and algorithmic pricing protections.
Texas — The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) enforces broad obligations on data brokers, with the AG already securing major settlements.

The pattern is clear: state legislatures see data broker regulation as a priority, and the universal deletion portal model pioneered by California is spreading. Businesses in the data broker space should expect this trend to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Vermont H 211 been signed into law?

No. As of March 29, 2026, H 211 has passed the Vermont House and been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. The Vermont legislative session runs through mid-May, and the bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.

What is a data broker under Vermont law?

A data broker is a business that knowingly collects and sells or licenses the brokered personal information of consumers with whom the business does not have a direct relationship. This does not include first-party data collection (e.g., a retailer collecting data from its own customers).

How would the universal deletion portal work?

Vermont residents would visit a state-run website and submit a single deletion request. That request would then be transmitted to all registered data brokers, each of whom would be required to delete the consumer’s personal information within a specified timeframe. This replaces the current system where consumers must contact each broker individually.

When would Vermont H 211 take effect if enacted?

If passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, Vermont H 211 is projected to take effect in July 2026.

Last updated: March 29, 2026.