Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Introduced
Summary
Protecting firearm trace data by exempting ATF trace records from public disclosure and creating civil penalties and a private lawsuit path for unlawful disclosures. This bill would add a new FOIA exemption for the ATF’s Firearms Trace System and for certain dealer records under 18 U.S.C. 923.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Licensed gun dealers could sue over leaks
If enacted, federally licensed firearm businesses could sue over unlawful disclosures of protected records. Courts could award the greater of triple damages (including lost income or reputational harm) or $25,000 per disclosed item, plus possible punitive damages and attorney’s fees. The Attorney General could fine non‑federal entities $10,000 per item for a first violation or if the last violation was over 3 years ago, or $25,000 per item otherwise. Fines would be per disclosure, could be collected in court, and a $25,000‑tier penalty would trigger a 1‑year loss of access to protected info. Civil fines would apply to disclosures after enactment; the right to sue would begin on enactment.
FOIA shield for firearm trace records
The bill would add a FOIA exemption for ATF firearm trace data and certain licensee records. Agencies could deny FOIA requests for the Firearms Trace System and for records dealers must keep or report under federal law. This would reduce public access to those records, while shielding sensitive trace and dealer information. The exemption would take effect upon enactment.
Keeps other legal remedies available
The bill would not block any other legal remedies. If a court strikes part of the Act, the rest would still apply. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Who and what counts as protected info
The bill would define key terms. It would name the covered disclosure statute, adopt the federal definition of agency, and define local entities. It would define protected information to include the ATF Firearms Trace System and dealer records that must be kept or reported. These definitions would determine who can be sued or fined and which records are protected. They would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
LA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Babin
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
TN • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Collins
GA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
MD • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Crenshaw
TX • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Jackson (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rogers (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Jack
GA • R
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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