The spate of state privacy laws—proposed and passed—continues in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon.

Louisiana Governor Passes Gun-Owner Protection Law

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed a bill last week that he says protects the privacy rights of law-abiding gun owners. The law imposes fines of up to $10,000 and jail sentences of up to six months on those that publish the names of people who own or have applied for a concealed handgun permit.

“The law raises the constitutional question of prior restraint, meaning when the government prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place,” Fox News reports.

Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Bossier City) said the bill was a response to the controversial map published last year in a New York paper including the names and addresses of handgun permit-holders within its readership region.

According to the reports, Arkansas (SB 131), Maine (LD 345), Mississippi (HB 485), New York (New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act) and Virginia (SB 1335) have all passed laws to protect the identities of concealed weapons permit-holders.

Student Privacy in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Lawmakers are considering Bill H 331 to prohibit those providers that deliver cloud computing services to kindergarten through  grade-12 schools from processing student data for commercial purposes.

The bill was filed by Rep. Carlo Basile (D-East Boston) and is a pressing issue as the state is one of five considering participation in inBloom, a Gates Foundation pilot program that aims to help schools simplify computer systems.

Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) questioned why FERPA doesn’t address the problem; The Lowell Sun pointed to criticisms that 2011 changes to FERPA opened the door for schools to share student data with private entities.

New Jersey Senate Passes Drone Regs
Last week, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed S2702, a bill that sets guidelines for state officials’ use of drones.

Permitted uses include criminal investigations and events that “substantially endanger the health, safety and property of the citizens;” however, the use would need to be approved by the agency chief, reports New Jersey.com. The bill also restricts use of both audio and visual recording taken by drones.

The bill has been received by the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.

Oregon Drone Bill Heads to Gov.
Oregon’s police drone bill (SB 71) passed the House 56-3 last week and is headed to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, the bill would bar law enforcement from using drones to collect information without a warrant, except in specified situations.