Sale of bureau of motor vehicles information.
SB 414 would restrict the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) from selling personal information for certain individuals and would add new limits on how recipients of BMV data may further sell or disclose that information. Specifically, the bill bars the BMV from selling the personal information of anyone under 21, anyone 65 or older, or anyone who opts out. It also requires the BMV to provide a clear and accessible opt-out process.
The bill keeps in place the existing framework that allows the BMV to disclose personal information for a wide range of permitted uses, including government functions, safety and recall purposes, insurance, litigation, research, toll operations, and other authorized uses. However, it adds a new category of protected records under which authorized recipients may not sell, resell, disclose, or redisclose the personal information of the protected age groups or opt-out individuals. The bill also preserves existing exceptions for certain record types and requires some recipients who resell data to keep records for inspection by the BMV.
To address the fiscal effect of limiting data sales, the bill authorizes the state board of finance, with gubernatorial approval, to transfer money to the BMV to offset any funding shortfall caused by the new sales restrictions. This temporary backstop applies to state fiscal years beginning before July 1, 2027, and the funding-transfer authority expires on July 1, 2027. The bill itself takes effect July 1, 2025.
Overall, the bill appears to reflect a privacy-protection approach rather than a broad policy overhaul, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The available context suggests the measure is aimed at limiting commercial use of BMV data while preserving government, safety, and other public-interest uses. Because there are no transcripts or vote records, there is no documented opposition or support in the supplied materials, but the inclusion of a state funding offset suggests lawmakers anticipated revenue concerns from restricting data sales.
SB 414 would amend Indiana Code chapter 9-14-13 governing BMV disclosure of personal information. It would create a new statutory prohibition on the BMV selling personal information of minors under 21, adults 65 and older, and any individual who opts out, while also restricting downstream resale or redisclosure of that protected information by authorized recipients. The bill would require the BMV to offer an accessible opt-out mechanism and would preserve existing permitted uses for government, safety, insurance, research, legal, and other authorized purposes. It also authorizes temporary state financial transfers to offset any BMV revenue loss caused by the new restrictions.
Based on the bill text, the measure has a privacy-protective and consumer-protective orientation, with an emphasis on limiting commercial exploitation of BMV data while maintaining operational exceptions for public and business uses. The absence of committee transcripts and vote history means there is no recorded public debate in the provided materials, but the inclusion of a fiscal backstop indicates awareness that the bill could reduce BMV revenue. Overall, the bill appears designed to balance privacy concerns with administrative continuity.
The main policy tension is between privacy protections and the BMV’s ability to generate revenue from selling personal information. Supporters would likely favor shielding younger drivers, seniors, and opt-out individuals from data sales, while critics may be concerned about reduced data availability for businesses and the potential funding shortfall for the BMV. Another possible point of contention is the scope of the resale and redisclosure restrictions, since the bill limits downstream use of protected information and imposes recordkeeping requirements on recipients. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided transcripts or votes.