Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Strict warrants and transparency for police and intelligence use of cell‑site simulators. This bill would sharply limit when agencies can use so‑called stingrays, require court authorization or tightly drawn exceptions, and add testing, disclosure, and oversight rules to reduce improper tracking and evidence use.
Show full summary
- Individuals and households: Would curb warrantless location and device tracking and generally bar evidence collected in violation of the rules from trials. Courts must usually notify named persons and provide an inventory generally within 90 days after denial or termination of a warrant.
- Law enforcement and intelligence components: Would allow use only under a Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure warrant or a FISA Title I order, with emergency use allowed but requiring a warrant application within 48 hours. Initial warrants are capped at 30 days with 30‑day extensions allowed and must show other methods were tried or likely to fail.
- Correctional, protective, and research uses: Permits narrow contraband‑interdiction systems inside facilities if they limit transmissions, undergo annual testing, and report issues to the FCC within 10 business days. The U.S. Secret Service may use devices for protective duties but evidence from that use generally cannot be used in court.
- FCC, labs, and oversight: Requires FCC‑recognized accredited lab inspection and model certification, directs the FCC to begin rulemaking within 180 days, and mandates annual joint Inspector General reports with a public primary report and possible classified annex.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New penalties, notice, and civil remedies
This bill would let people sue if they were unlawfully surveilled with a cell‑site simulator. You could get actual damages, attorney’s fees, and up to $500 per violation. Anyone who breaks the ban could face fines up to $250,000. Courts would generally exclude evidence obtained unlawfully and judges would normally send notice within about 90 days; agencies must also start discipline or notify Inspectors General when serious misconduct is alleged.
Ban on cell-site simulators with exceptions
This bill would make most use of cell‑site simulators illegal in the United States. It would allow limited testing, protective, and certain intelligence uses under strict rules. Agencies could only use device models with required model‑specific disclosures and prior approvals.
Tighter warrant rules and data limits
This bill would require warrants that say why other methods failed and that name a narrow place and time before most uses. Initial warrants would last up to 30 days and extensions would be 30‑day increments. It would limit collection to device IDs and signal data and require minimization and prompt destruction of non‑target data. The bill would also add uniform definitions and confirm state and local users must follow FCC rules.
Prison phone interdiction system rules
This bill would let correctional facilities use contraband phone systems if transmissions stay inside the facility. Facilities would have to post signs, follow FCC and NTIA rules, test systems each year, and report problems to the FCC within 10 business days.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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