Illinois Judge Rules on Biometric Privacy Law

Huntington Beach is advancing with its voter ID law after a court dismissed California's challenge, allowing the city to implement a voter ID program approved by local voters in March 2024. City Attorney Michael Gates expressed confidence in the decision, asserting that the city's charter would prevail over state election code when conflicts arise. Meanwhile, in Illinois, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit under the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), citing recent amendments that significantly limit the damages for violations. The ruling indicates courts will apply these amendments retroactively, reducing potential payouts from $75,000 to approximately $15,000. The changes to BIPA clarify that violations occur only once for each unauthorized collection of biometric data, rather than each time data is accessed, which previously led to substantial settlements. This shift follows significant legal challenges and settlements faced by businesses under the original BIPA interpretation.