A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations Act or the FLAFO Act. It stops Federal agencies from buying, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing information with automated license plate reader surveillance systems unless they get a warrant. The bill allows exceptions for specific emergencies like missing persons, imminent threats, and terrorism investigations. It also creates criminal penalties, civil penalties, and a private right of action for people whose rights are violated by Federal employees. Finally, the bill cuts off certain Department of Justice funds for States, local governments, and Indian Tribes unless they put similar rules in place.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +9
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The legislation establishes a general warrant requirement for federal agencies seeking to access automated license plate reader surveillance networks.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill strongly protects personal location data by restricting government access to automated license plate reader systems without a warrant.
- Scored +6
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill prohibits unwarranted tracking of personal movements and eliminates qualified immunity for government officials who violate these privacy protections.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill conditions Department of Justice funding on state and local governments adopting similar surveillance restrictions.
- Scored -4
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill mandates that state, local, and tribal jurisdictions adopt rules substantially similar to federal restrictions to retain Department of Justice funds.
- Scored -2
Would immigrants be better off under this?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is explicitly excluded from the warrant requirements during immigration enforcement and border security operations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Privacy and Constitutional Rights: Section 3(a) and Section 3(b) generally prohibit Federal agencies from using or accessing automated license plate reader surveillance systems without a warrant, which helps protect everyday people from having their daily movements tracked without individualized suspicion.
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Accountability for Government Officials: Section 3(c) holds government officials accountable by imposing criminal penalties, civil penalties, and allowing everyday people to sue in court if an official knowingly violates these rules, without allowing the defense of sovereign or qualified immunity.
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Penalties for System Operators: Section 4 makes it a crime and subjects operators of these surveillance systems to civil penalties and lawsuits if they knowingly give Federal agencies unlawful access to the system or to people's information.
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Encouraging Local Protections: Section 5 requires States, local governments, and Indian Tribes to set up rules similar to this Act in order to keep receiving certain Federal funds from the Department of Justice, which pushes local authorities to respect these privacy limits as well.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusions for Certain Law Enforcement and Security Agencies: Section 3(d) excludes agencies like the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy from these rules during certain operations, meaning people's location data could still be tracked by these specific groups without the standard warrant requirements.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill strongly protects personal location data by restricting government access to automated license plate reader systems without a warrant. Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes severe criminal and civil penalties on private operators of automated license plate reader systems for unauthorized data sharing.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The legislation establishes a general warrant requirement for federal agencies seeking to access automated license plate reader surveillance networks. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill prohibits unwarranted tracking of personal movements and eliminates qualified immunity for government officials who violate these privacy protections. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill creates strict accountability mechanisms, private rights of action, and removes qualified immunity for government employees who knowingly violate surveillance restrictions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill conditions Department of Justice funding on state and local governments adopting similar surveillance restrictions. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill mandates that state, local, and tribal jurisdictions adopt rules substantially similar to federal restrictions to retain Department of Justice funds.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill explicitly excludes U.S. Customs and Border Protection from these restrictions during border security and enforcement operations. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill protects constitutional and civil privacy rights for all individuals, preventing unwarranted tracking. Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — The bill protects political gatherings and freedom of assembly by prohibiting untracked government surveillance. Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion? — The bill safeguards privacy to protect visits to places of worship and religious exercises from unwarranted government tracking.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this put more money into stopping terrorism? — The bill includes explicit exceptions for counterterrorism investigations, ensuring federal agencies can still access surveillance data for national security.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill excludes Department of Defense installations and facilities from surveillance restrictions during force protection and security operations. Would immigrants be better off under this? — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is explicitly excluded from the warrant requirements during immigration enforcement and border security operations.
- 10/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
Anna Paulina LunaRepublican · Florida