Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the 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 Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 implements various reforms to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities. It establishes new protections for United States persons and people located in the U.S. regarding warrantless queries and data collection. The bill prohibits federal law enforcement from purchasing personal data from data brokers and adds stricter court supervision for targeting individuals. It also introduces accountability procedures for federal employees who commit surveillance violations and extends section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for four years.
Yes· 3 of 32
- Scored +9
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Strongly increases protections against warrantless government surveillance and data acquisition.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
Implements strict warrant requirements for queries of U.S. person data and bans data broker purchases.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Adds accountability for employees violating surveillance laws and requires better accuracy in FISA applications.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Extends federal surveillance authorities under FISA Section 702.
- Scored -2
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
Extends section 702 surveillance authorities for an additional four years.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Warrant Requirements for Queries: Prevents government officers from accessing covered information from queries involving U.S. persons without a warrant, except in specific emergencies or with consent (Section 101).
- Ban on Data Broker Purchases: Prohibits federal law enforcement from buying covered personal data from data brokers, preventing the bypass of traditional legal processes to get personal info (Section 201).
- Data Deletion Limits: Requires that covered information be destroyed within 5 years of collection unless specific legal exceptions apply (Section 104).
- Privacy for Car Data: Protects car data from federal warrantless searches (Title VII, Section 701).
- Employee Accountability: Creates a system of escalating consequences, including termination of security clearance or employment, for federal employees who willfully or negligently violate surveillance laws (Section 311).
- Increased Transparency: Requires the declassification and public release of significant court decisions and opinions (Section 308).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Extension of Surveillance Authorities: Extends the authority of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 for an additional four years, allowing the continued use of these surveillance powers (Section 111).
- Emergency Access Exceptions: Allows the government to access covered information without a warrant if an official believes an emergency involving imminent death or serious bodily harm exists (Section 101).
- Broad Law Enforcement Exceptions: Allows federal agencies to purchase data from brokers if it is part of a larger compilation and they "minimize" the data, which may still allow some data acquisition (Section 201).
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 immigrants be better off under this? — Extends protections to any 'person known or believed to be located in the United States', regardless of citizenship. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would billionaires be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would children be better off under this? — Increases overall privacy protections for all individuals, including children. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would men be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Increases overall privacy protections for all individuals, including middle-aged adults. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would retired people be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Increases overall privacy protections for all individuals, including seniors. Would students be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this? — Provides broader privacy protections regardless of income level. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would women be better off under this? — Increases privacy protections for all persons located in the U.S. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Increases overall privacy protections for all individuals, including young adults.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Strongly increases protections against warrantless government surveillance and data acquisition. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Adds accountability for employees violating surveillance laws and requires better accuracy in FISA applications. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires declassification of significant FISA court decisions and enhanced reporting to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — Extends federal surveillance authorities under FISA Section 702.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Implements strict warrant requirements for queries of U.S. person data and bans data broker purchases.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — Increases warrant requirements and limits warrantless access to personal and location data.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Protects personal data from being purchased by federal law enforcement from data brokers.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Includes provisions for defensive cybersecurity queries to protect persons from attacks. Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — Extends section 702 surveillance authorities for an additional four years.
- 3/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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-7901: Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026
- 119-HR-9016: Email Privacy Act
- 119-S-4649: Email Privacy Act
- 119-S-4739: A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, to prohibit reverse targeting of United States persons and persons located in the United States, and for other purposes.
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts