Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
Sponsored By: Representative Moore (WV)
In Committee
Summary
Stops payment systems from assigning merchant codes that single out firearms sellers. This bill would prohibit payment card networks and covered entities from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that identify a retailer as selling firearms, ammunition, accessories, or firearm components.
Show full summary
- Firearms retailers: Businesses could not be assigned MCCs that are used only or primarily for firearms retailers, which limits one way transactions could be labeled.
- Payment card networks and covered entities: Networks and processors would be barred from requiring merchants to use or from assigning MCCs that identify a business as a firearms retailer.
- Federal enforcement and oversight: The Attorney General would set up a complaint process within 90 days after enactment, investigate complaints, demand remediation within 30 days, and may seek federal injunctions. The bill would preempt state and local rules on assigning or disclosing these MCCs while allowing narrow fraud and security compliance exceptions and require annual reports to Congress on investigations and effectiveness.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban on merchant codes for gun sellers
If enacted, the bill would bar payment processors and related firms from assigning merchant category codes that mark a store as a firearms seller. It would stop card networks from forcing a retailer to use codes used only or mainly for firearms sellers. The bill defines who counts as a firearms retailer and what a covered entity and merchant category code are. These definitions would apply as soon as the law takes effect.
Federal enforcement and preemption of merchant codes
If enacted, the Attorney General would enforce the law and must set up a complaint process within 90 days. Individuals, including firearms retailers, would be able to file complaints and the AG would investigate them. The AG could order fixes within 30 days and sue in federal court for an injunction if fixes do not happen. The bill would also preempt state and local laws that regulate assignment, use, or disclosure of merchant codes used only or mainly for firearms sellers, while still allowing compliance with laws on fraud, disputes, data breaches, or transaction integrity.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moore (WV)
WV • R
Cosponsors
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Hudson
NC • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Bean (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Cline
VA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Perry
PA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Van Duyne
TX • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Guthrie
KY • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Collins
GA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Finstad
MN • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Moore (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Webster (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Guest
MS • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Rulli
OH • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Williams (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Higgins (LA)
LA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Newhouse
WA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Comer
KY • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Womack
AR • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Rose
TN • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Gill (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Boebert
CO • R
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 2/12/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Biggs (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Issa
CA • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Green (TN)
TN • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Bergman
MI • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Arrington
TX • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Huizenga
MI • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Kennedy (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
De La Cruz
TX • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Clyde
GA • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Graves
MO • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Rogers (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Harshbarger
TN • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Murphy
NC • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Moolenaar
MI • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Carter (GA)
GA • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Scott, Austin
GA • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Van Orden
WI • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Grothman
WI • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Latta
OH • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Weber (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Hinson
IA • R
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Walberg
MI • R
Sponsored 2/26/2025
LaMalfa
CA • R
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rouzer
NC • R
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Harris (MD)
MD • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Wagner
MO • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Franklin, Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Moore (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Letlow
LA • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Estes
KS • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Gosar
AZ • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Strong
AL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Shreve
IN • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Smith (NE)
NE • R
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Fleischmann
TN • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Cloud
TX • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Ellzey
TX • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Fitzgerald
WI • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Aderholt
AL • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Hern (OK)
OK • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Zinke
MT • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Babin
TX • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Ezell
MS • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Miller (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Harrigan
NC • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Gonzales, Tony
TX • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Kelly (MS)
MS • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Reschenthaler
PA • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Crenshaw
TX • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Hurd (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Jack
GA • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Loudermilk
GA • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Baumgartner
WA • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Fallon
TX • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Stefanik
NY • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Haridopolos
FL • R
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Steube
FL • R
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Meuser
PA • R
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Miller (IL)
IL • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
McClain
MI • R
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Timmons
SC • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Downing
MT • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Stutzman
IN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Hamadeh (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Begich
AK • R
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Fry
SC • R
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Jackson (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Biggs (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Taylor
OH • R
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Moran
TX • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Fischbach
MN • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Patronis
FL • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Nunn (IA)
IA • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Davidson
OH • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Owens
UT • R
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Joyce (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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