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A bill introduced before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday would take steps to prohibit Vermont from working with the federal government to collect metadata and electronic data.

Data collection has been a controversial issue across the country in recent years. Citizens, politicians and judicial leaders have lodged concerns about the scope and legality of the National Security Administration’s metadata program, for instance.

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Through the program, the NSA collects individuals’ phone records. The data shows what numbers have been called and the duration of the calls, but does not include the content of the phone calls.

Now, Rep. Teo Zagar, D-Barnard, wants Vermont to take action.

Zagar is the lead sponsor of a new bill that would prohibit the state from participating in data collection, or helping the federal government to collect data.

Besides banning the state from collecting information, H.204 would make any data evidence collected without a warrant inadmissible in court.

On Tuesday, Zagar told the House Judiciary Committee that the practice, by and large, is out of the control of state government.

“We’re not going to stop the NSA or other agencies from collecting our data,” Zagar said. “If you have a cell phone, they can track your location.”

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Zagar told committee members that he decided to take legislative action on the bill because national security intelligence measures can be unclear.

“If you type the wrong things into your Google search, you can be red-flagged,” Zagar said.

Other states have considered taking similar measures to protest the collection of metadata.

The bill, which was referred to the committee last week, sparked conversation among legislators about wider issues relating to privacy and data collection, in private and public spheres.

“There’s incredible information collected on you that you might not realize,” Rep. Barbara Rachelson, D-Burlington, said.

She said that many consumers might not know that when they use FitBit wearable fitness trackers or sign on to open WiFi networks, information can be gathered on their activities.

“We don’t know where that information is going and how it’s being used,” she said.

For now, Zagar has focused the bill on prohibiting state compliance with federal data collection systems.

Rep. Tom Burditt, R-West Rutland, inquired whether the bill would extend as far as immunization records.

Zagar said that he had not included that in his draft, but encouraged the committee to seek out experts to testify on the matter.

Zagar’s bill is not the first of the session to take on privacy in Vermont. Last month, Sen. Tim Ashe, D/P-Burlington, introduced a bill that aims to enhance privacy protection.

S.18 has language similar to the House bill, requiring a search warrant to gain access to electronic service records. Ashe’s bill would also set up regulations for how law enforcement can use drones.

The language of the bill is in the early stages. If the House Judiciary Committee takes it up, lawmakers will likely examine how the proposed law would interact with existing federal laws, such as the Patriot Act.

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