119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9716
# Summary of H.R. 9716 (PRIVACY Act) This bill restricts federal law enforcement agencies from accessing surveillance data collected by state and local police without a warrant. The legislation creates a "Jurisdictional Wall List" of covered surveillance technologies that includes license plate readers, surveillance cameras, long-range microphones, fingerprint readers, and chemical scanners, with the Attorney General required to update the list every 90 days. Federal agencies can only access data from these devices with a warrant from a federal judge, except in genuine emergencies where immediate action is needed to prevent death or serious injury. Data obtained without proper authorization cannot be used as evidence in federal court, and the government must disclose such information to defendants under standard criminal procedure rules. The bill also prohibits federal funding for purchasing these surveillance technologies and requires the Attorney General to submit semiannual reports to Congress detailing federal surveillance data access. Violations can result in civil lawsuits, employee discipline, and inspector general audits, with the law taking effect 180 days after enactment.