Rand Paul (R-KY)
Fourth Amendment Restoration and Protection Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no 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 Fourth Amendment Restoration and Protection Act of 2026 amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. It prohibits the government from using this Act to surveil United States persons through electronic surveillance, physical searches, or the acquisition of tangible things. It also stops officers from querying section 702 information using search terms linked to United States persons. Additionally, the bill prevents information acquired under this Act or Executive Order 12333 from being used as evidence against United States persons in legal proceedings. However, it allows "aggrieved persons" who are United States persons to use such information in their own favor.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +10
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill restores Fourth Amendment protections by prohibiting warrantless surveillance of US persons.
- Scored +10
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
It restricts the government's ability to query and acquire data on US persons.
- Scored +8
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
It prevents surveillance-derived information from being used as evidence against US persons.
The opposite
- Scored -10
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill explicitly prohibits the use of FISA and EO 12333 to surveil United States persons.
- Scored -8
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill significantly limits the federal government's surveillance powers over citizens.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection from Surveillance: The bill stops the government from requesting or ordering electronic surveillance, physical searches of exclusive property, the use of pen registers or trap and trace devices, and the production of tangible things concerning United States persons (Sec. 2(a)(1) Sec. 901(b)).
-
Privacy in Data Queries: It prevents government officers from searching information collected under section 702(a) using terms associated with United States persons (Sec. 2(a)(1) Sec. 901(c)).
-
Restriction of Evidence: Information gathered under this Act or Executive Order 12333 cannot be used as evidence against a United States person in criminal, civil, or administrative investigations or proceedings (Sec. 2(a)(1) Sec. 901(d)(2) and Sec. 2(b)(3)).
-
Rights for Aggrieved Persons: United States persons who are targets or subjects of surveillance may use the acquired information in their own criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings (Sec. 2(a)(1) Sec. 901(d)(3) and Sec. 2(b)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Information on Negatives: The provided text does not explicitly list negative consequences or burdens for individuals; it focuses on limitations placed on government authorities to protect United States persons.
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 restores Fourth Amendment protections by prohibiting warrantless surveillance of US persons. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — It prevents surveillance-derived information from being used as evidence against US persons. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — It provides a mechanism for aggrieved persons to use acquired info in their favor. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill significantly limits the federal government's surveillance powers over citizens.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — It restricts the government's ability to query and acquire data on US persons.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill explicitly prohibits the use of FISA and EO 12333 to surveil United States persons.
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 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.