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HD 715

An Act relative to consumer health data

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Brian Ashe and 3 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill establishes consumer privacy rights for personal health data, requiring business transparency, consent, and data safeguards with enforcement mechanisms.

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Bill Summary · HD 715

Legislative bill overview

HD 715 establishes a comprehensive consumer health data privacy framework in Massachusetts, requiring businesses that collect personal health information to implement safeguards, obtain consumer consent, and provide transparency about data use. The bill creates enforcement mechanisms and grants consumers rights to access, correct, and delete their health data.

Why is this important

Health data breaches have exposed millions of Americans' sensitive medical records, often without consumer knowledge or recourse. This legislation addresses a gap in Massachusetts law by creating specific protections for health information held by entities not covered by federal HIPAA regulations, such as fitness apps, wellness platforms, and direct-to-consumer health services that increasingly collect detailed personal health data.

Potential points of contention

  • Business compliance costs: Companies, particularly smaller health tech startups, argue implementation of security standards and consent mechanisms increases operational expenses and may reduce service availability
  • Scope ambiguity: Unclear boundaries between what constitutes "health data" could create legal uncertainty—does this include fitness trackers, mental health apps, genetic testing services, or only traditional medical information?
  • Federal preemption concerns: Potential conflict with or duplication of emerging federal privacy standards, creating compliance complexity for multi-state businesses and inconsistent consumer protections across states

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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