Creates the reproductive health and gender-affirming healthcare data privacy act.

Rhode Island Reproductive Health and Gender-Affirming Healthcare Data Privacy Act

This bill would create new privacy protections specifically for personal health information related to reproductive health and gender-affirming care. Under this legislation, companies and individuals would be restricted from collecting, sharing, or selling data that could reveal whether someone has sought or received services like abortion care, contraception, fertility treatments, or gender-affirming medical procedures. The goal is to prevent this sensitive health information from being disclosed without the person's clear consent.

The bill would affect a wide range of parties — including technology companies, app developers, data brokers, and other businesses that might collect health-related data through phones, apps, websites, or other digital tools. These entities would face new rules about how they handle this type of information, and Rhode Island residents would gain new rights to know what data is being collected about them and to request that it be deleted. Violations of the law could result in legal consequences for those who improperly collect or share this data.

This legislation would primarily benefit Rhode Island residents who are concerned about their private health decisions being tracked or shared without their knowledge — particularly in situations where that information could potentially be used against them in other states with different laws on these topics. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.