Richard Hudson (R-NC)
Special Operator Protection Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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
The Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code to prohibit the doxing of special operations personnel. This bill would make it illegal to publicly release restricted personal information regarding a covered person or their immediate family with specific intent. The covered persons include special operations forces members, certain Department of Defense employees or Armed Forces members, and assigned Federal law enforcement officers. The law would target those who release information to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence. It also establishes specific penalties for these violations, including fines and imprisonment.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill protects the privacy of sensitive personal information like home addresses and biometric data from being used to threaten covered persons.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill establishes legal penalties for the unauthorized public release of sensitive biometric and personal data regarding specific personnel.
- Scored +4
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill protects the personal security and privacy of those in sensitive military roles.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection for Service Members and Families: The bill creates legal protections for "covered persons," which includes members of special operations forces, designated Department of Defense employees, and certain Federal law enforcement officers, as well as their immediate family members (Section 2(a)).
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Prevention of Harassment and Violence: By making it unlawful to release restricted personal information with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence, the bill seeks to prevent targeted harm against these individuals (Section 2(b)).
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Stringent Penalties for Violators: The bill establishes significant consequences for those who break these laws, including fines and up to five years in prison, with even harsher penalties—up to life in prison—if the violation results in death or serious bodily injury (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Criminal Penalties for Information Disclosure: Individuals who release specific information such as a name, place of employment, home address, or biometric data could face up to five years in prison if they are found to have the intent to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate a crime of violence against a covered person or their family (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
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Severe Consequences for Resulting Injuries: If a person releases restricted personal information and it results in death or serious bodily injury to the covered person or their family, they could face life in prison (Section 2(c)).
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill protects the privacy of sensitive personal information like home addresses and biometric data from being used to threaten covered persons.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill establishes legal penalties for the unauthorized public release of sensitive biometric and personal data regarding specific personnel.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill protects the personal security and privacy of those in sensitive military roles.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill provides enhanced legal protections for federal law enforcement officers assigned to special operations.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill protects the personal information of active special operations personnel and their families.
- 1/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Pat HarriganRepublican · North Carolina