Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
Sponsored By: Senator Bill Hagerty
Introduced
Summary
Bans merchant category codes that single out firearms retailers. The bill would forbid payment card networks and covered payment processors from requiring or assigning MCCs that identify gun or ammunition sellers and creates a Department of Justice enforcement framework.
Show full summary
- People who buy firearms: Would be less likely to have transactions tagged by a unique firearms MCC.
- Firearms retailers: Could not be placed into a distinct firearms MCC and would not gain a private right to sue under this law.
- Payment card networks and covered entities: Would be prohibited from assigning MCCs that distinguish firearms retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers.
- State and local governments: Could not enact or enforce laws regulating MCCs for firearm retailers.
- Department of Justice and oversight: The Attorney General would have to set up a complaint process within 90 days, investigate each complaint, give violators 30 days to fix issues, seek injunctions if remedy is not made, and deliver annual reports to Congress on investigations and effectiveness.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No special merchant codes for firearms retailers
If enacted, the bill would ban payment networks and processors from assigning merchant codes that single out firearms retailers. It would define terms like "firearms retailer," "payment card network," and "merchant category code." The Attorney General would enforce the rule and must set up a public complaint process within 90 days. After investigating, the AG would order fixes and may sue if violations are not fixed within 30 days. The bill would preempt state or local rules on merchant codes and would say that private lawsuits are not allowed under this section.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bill Hagerty
TN • R
Cosponsors
James Justice
WV • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
John Hoeven
ND • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Steve Daines
MT • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Kevin Cramer
ND • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Mike Crapo
ID • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Deb Fischer
NE • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in