Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)· May 20, 2026
S.Amdt. 5444: In the nature of a substitute.
Adopted
With no one objecting, no names recorded
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Safe Cloud Storage Act. It allows cloud service providers to store digital child pornography, child obscenity, and intimate visual depictions of minors for law enforcement agencies. The legislation limits civil claims and criminal charges against these approved vendors when they perform their contractual duties. It sets strict cybersecurity standards that these vendors must follow, including independent annual audits and end-to-end encryption. The bill also requires that stored data generally remain within the United States unless an agency consents to a transfer for investigative purposes. Additionally, approved vendors must notify the Department of Justice or state attorneys general if a contracting agency breaches a contract.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill enhances the security and storage protocols for data related to child exploitation.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The bill mandates high-level encryption and NIST-compliant cybersecurity standards for storing sensitive evidence.
- Scored +6
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The act implements strong encryption and access controls to protect sensitive digital evidence.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Cybersecurity Controls: Under Section 2 adding subsection (c), approved vendors must secure stored materials using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, employ end-to-end encryption, minimize employee access, and undergo independent annual cybersecurity audits. This helps ensure sensitive law enforcement data is protected from unauthorized exposure.
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Data Location Protections: Under Section 2 adding subsection (e)(1), approved vendors are generally required to ensure that stored materials remain within the United States. This keeps the data subject to domestic jurisdiction unless an agency expressly consents to a transfer for investigative purposes.
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Accountability for Vendor Misconduct: Under Section 2 adding subsection (b)(2), civil claims and criminal charges can still be brought against an approved vendor if the vendor engages in intentional misconduct, negligent conduct, actual malice, reckless disregard, or acts for purposes unrelated to their contractual functions. This ensures bad actors can still be held accountable.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Shielding Vendors from Certain Liabilities: Under Section 2 adding subsection (b)(1), approved vendors are granted limited liability, meaning civil claims and criminal charges generally cannot be brought against them in Federal or State court for performing their contractual storage and support services. Critics may argue that limiting liability reduces the legal avenues available for addressing potential harms tied to handling this sensitive material.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill enhances the security and storage protocols for data related to child exploitation. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides limited liability protections for approved cloud service providers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The act implements strong encryption and access controls to protect sensitive digital evidence. Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes strict security and auditing requirements on cloud service providers.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill mandates high-level encryption and NIST-compliant cybersecurity standards for storing sensitive evidence.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill mandates strict cybersecurity standards and audits for vendors storing sensitive material.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill mandates strict access controls and encryption for highly sensitive digital data.
- 5/21/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 5/20/2026
- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2426-2428)
- The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2427-2428)
- 5/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 345.
- 2/5/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/21/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia