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H 3716

Retirement of Rep. Jefferson

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

Mass. H 3716 would let businesses manually enter ID data for verification, not only scan IDs, impacting retailers, bars, car rentals, and consumers.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3716

Summary — H 3716 (2025): "An Act relative to electronic scanning of identification"

Overview / Purpose

H 3716 proposes to allow businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to accept manual entry of identifying information from consumer identification as an alternative to—or in addition to—electronically scanning a consumer’s ID. The measure inserts a new Section 8N into Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws addressing how businesses may collect ID data for verification purposes.

Key provision (text excerpt)

The bill adds Section 8N to Chapter 90 with the core text (as filed):
- "Businesses in the Commonwealth may not only retrieve information from consumers by electronically scanning their ID, but the information may also be allowed to be entered manually."

In short, the bill expressly permits manual entry of ID information rather than requiring an electronic scan.

What the bill would change

  • Creates new statutory authority (G.L. c.90, §8N) clarifying that businesses may accept manually-entered ID information.
  • Implicitly limits any practice or policy that would require exclusive use of electronic scanning by confirming manual entry is permissible.
  • The filing does not include implementing details such as record retention limits, data-security requirements, prohibited uses of collected data, or penalties for noncompliance.

Who would be affected

  • Businesses that routinely verify identification (e.g., retailers selling age-restricted products, restaurants/bars, rental companies, car-rental agencies, employers conducting ID checks).
  • Consumers whose IDs are read or scanned for age verification or identity verification.
  • Technology vendors providing electronic ID-scanning systems (may see changes in demand or configuration requirements).
  • Privacy advocates and regulators (due to potential impacts on personal data collection and storage practices).

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed/Presented: House docket indicates filing 01/16/2025 (House No. 3716).
  • Introduced and adopted: 01/15/2025 (file contains an adoption notation).
  • Referred to: Committee on Transportation — 02/27/2025.
  • Senate concurred: 02/27/2025.
  • Hearing scheduled: 10/07/2025, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM in A‑1.
  • Related bill: HD 2528 (replaces).

Note: the filing document contains inconsistent dates and also includes an unrelated South Carolina House resolution recognizing Representative Joseph H. Jefferson Jr.; that text appears to be extraneous to the Massachusetts statutory amendment.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Privacy: Allowing manual entry could reduce the need to create digital copies of IDs (which can store sensitive data), potentially lowering risks of data retention, breaches, or secondary uses.
  • Business operations: Businesses may need to alter POS or verification workflows to permit manual entry; policies and staff training may be required.
  • Enforcement and clarity: Because the text is brief, additional legislation, regulation, or guidance may be needed to define permitted uses, data retention limits, security obligations, and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Technology: Vendors offering mandatory-scan solutions may need to provide options for manual-entry workflows to comply.

Notes / Ambiguities

  • The bill’s language is minimal and does not specify whether manual entry is voluntary or required, nor does it address preservation of records, consumer consent, or penalties.
  • The presence of unrelated resolution text in the filing suggests clerical conflation; only the Chapter 90 insertion pertains to Massachusetts law.

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

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