Montana Court Overrules Law Dictating Strict Gender Definitions

Helena, MT – A Montana law that sought to tightly restrict the definitions of ‘male’ and ‘female’ for the purposes of changing sex designations on birth certificates has been invalidated by a state judge. The ruling, handed down late Friday, marks a significant win for transgender rights advocates who argued that the law was discriminatory and overly restrictive. The law, which was enacted last year, restricted the ability of transgender people to alter their sex designation to situations where the individual had undergone surgical changes. This narrow definition was challenged in court on grounds that … Read more

New York Tightens Data Breach Laws: Faster Notifications and Broader Privacy Definitions Now Mandatory

Albany, N.Y. — In a significant move to ramp up data privacy laws, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York signed new amendments on December 24, 2024, that enforce stricter notification protocols for businesses after data breaches and broaden the spectrum of what constitutes “private information.” This legislative update, both for private-sector entities and government agencies, is aimed at addressing the escalating concerns over personal data security in the digital age. The newly signed amendments usher in a mandatory 30-day notification period for businesses to inform New York residents affected by a data breach. The regulation … Read more