What it does
SourcedThis bill repeals the authority for a Senator to bring a civil action against the federal government if an internet service provider or the Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) accessed or disclosed, or accesses or discloses, data from the Senator's office to provide to a federal agency without following prescribed notice requirements. The authority applies to a qualifying instance occurring on or after January 1, 2022.
The authority for the civil action was enacted in H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, which was signed by the President on November 12, 2026. The relevant provision requires written notice from the internet service provider or the SAA to the Senate office upon receipt of any legal process seeking access or disclosure of covered data. A Senator affected by a federal violation of the provision may sue the federal government for the greater of $500,000 per violation or the actual damages, plus attorney's fees and related costs.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Nov 12, 2025).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
Sourced- Nov 19, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 301). (text: CR H4790) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
- Nov 12, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
Recorded votes
Sourced- Nov 19, 2025 · HousePassed 426–0On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · needed two-thirds
Cosponsors
- Stephanie I. Bice R-OK-5
- Lauren Boebert R-CO-4
- Mike Bost R-IL-12
- Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. R-PA-8
- Tim Burchett R-TN-2
- Earl L. "Buddy" Carter R-GA-1
- Andrew S. Clyde R-GA-9
- Mike Collins R-GA-10
- Elijah Crane R-AZ-2
- Jeff Crank R-CO-5
- Gabe Evans R-CO-8
- Michelle Fischbach R-MN-7
Show 27 more cosponsors
- Mike Flood R-NE-1
- Virginia Foxx R-NC-5
- Lance Gooden R-TX-5
- Paul A. Gosar R-AZ-9
- H. Morgan Griffith R-VA-9
- Erin Houchin R-IN-9
- Bill Huizenga R-MI-4
- Jeff Hurd R-CO-3
- Brian Jack R-GA-3
- John Joyce R-PA-13
- Nicholas A. Langworthy R-NY-23
- Morgan Luttrell R-TX-8
- Tom McClintock R-CA-5
- Addison P. McDowell R-NC-6
- John J. McGuire III R-VA-5
- Tim Moore R-NC-14
- Ralph Norman R-SC-5
- Jay Obernolte R-CA-23
- Scott Perry R-PA-10
- John W. Rose R-TN-6
- Chip Roy R-TX-21
- Michael A. Rulli R-OH-6
- Derek Schmidt R-KS-2
- Keith Self R-TX-3
- David J. Taylor R-OH-2
- Claudia Tenney R-NY-24
- Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2