Clay Higgins (R-LA)
To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Financial Services, 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 extends the expiration date for Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 from June 12, 2026, to June 12, 2029. It places strict rules on the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the handling of unminimized information and sets up warrant requirements for targeting United States persons. Additionally, the legislation creates new criminal penalties for the unauthorized disclosure, retention, or querying of certain communications. It also requires the Attorney General to issue new procedures ensuring congressional access to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Finally, the bill prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency until December 31, 2031, unless certain privacy exceptions apply or Congress authorizes it.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Stronger warrant and approval requirements safeguard the privacy of U.S. citizens against warrantless government surveillance.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill places warrant requirements on accessing U.S. person communications and restricts central bank digital currencies to protect financial privacy.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill enhances congressional access to the FISA court and mandates GAO audits of targeting procedures.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill extends Title VII FISA surveillance authorities for three years, despite adding restrictions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2: This section establishes warrant and probable cause requirements before the government can intentionally target the communications of a United States person. This helps protect the privacy rights of everyday Americans by preventing unwarranted surveillance.
-
Section 4: This section requires the Attorney General to issue new procedures ensuring that specific Members of Congress and staff have access to proceedings of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review. This increases government accountability by allowing elected officials to oversee secret court proceedings.
-
Section 5: This section removes the ability of lower-level supervisors to approve certain Federal Bureau of Investigation queries using a United States person query term. Requiring a higher level of approval adds a protective barrier for individual privacy.
-
Section 6: This section mandates that the Government Accountability Office conduct an audit of targeting procedures and technical mechanisms used under Section 702. This ensures independent oversight of how government agencies operate surveillance capabilities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3: This section creates new criminal offenses and penalties, including up to eight years in prison for unauthorized disclosure or retention of classified communications involving a United States person, and up to two years in prison for unauthorized queries or misrepresenting compliance. While designed to enforce rules, these heavy penalties could burden individuals or employees who make administrative or good-faith errors during complex operations.
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? — Stronger warrant and approval requirements safeguard the privacy of U.S. citizens against warrantless government surveillance. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Requires probable cause warrants and court reviews for targeting United States persons. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill enhances congressional access to the FISA court and mandates GAO audits of targeting procedures.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill places warrant requirements on accessing U.S. person communications and restricts central bank digital currencies to protect financial privacy.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill extends Title VII FISA surveillance authorities for three years, despite adding restrictions.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill establishes new criminal offenses and penalties for unauthorized disclosures and surveillance queries.
- 6/3/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Financial Services, 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
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-8512: To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 20, 2029, and for other purposes.
- 119-HR-9238: To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes.
- 119-S-4760: A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes.
- 119-S-4764: A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes.