Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)
Postal Data Privacy Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
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
This bill, titled the "Postal Data Privacy Act of 2026," aims to change how mail covers are used. It would require a governmental entity to obtain a court order before they can use a mail cover. To get this order, the government must provide specific facts showing reasonable grounds that the mail cover is relevant to a criminal investigation. The bill also requires the Chief Postal Inspector to preserve evidence for a specific amount of time upon request.
Yes
- Scored +7
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
By requiring a court order for mail covers, the bill provides greater protection against warrantless surveillance of mail information.
- Scored +6
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill increases privacy protections by requiring judicial oversight for the use of mail covers.
- Scored +5
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill requires a court order and specific facts before government entities can use mail covers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Requirement for Court Order: This provision limits the ability of governmental entities to use mail covers unless they first obtain a court order, which requires showing specific and articulable facts regarding a criminal investigation (Section 2(a)(1) and 2(a)(2)).
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Preservation of Evidence: The bill ensures that records and evidence are kept by the Chief Postal Inspector for a set period of 90 days, with the possibility of a 90-day extension, while waiting for a court order or other process (Section 2(b)(1) and 2(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- State Law Restrictions: For State governmental authorities, a court order may not be issued if it is prohibited by the law of that specific State (Section 2(a)(2)).
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? — By requiring a court order for mail covers, the bill provides greater protection against warrantless surveillance of mail information.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill increases privacy protections by requiring judicial oversight for the use of mail covers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill requires a court order and specific facts before government entities can use mail covers.
- 6/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/4/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/2/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/29/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Sara JacobsDemocrat · California
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Marc VeaseyDemocrat · Texas