Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Ron Wyden
Introduced
Summary
This bill would sharply limit warrantless collection and queries about U.S. persons and people located in the United States by shifting many intelligence activities to a more warrant‑centric regime. It would also increase transparency, audits, civil remedies, and bar most federal access to passenger vehicle telemetry without a warrant.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
FISA exclusivity and state rules
If enacted, the bill would make FISA and specified Title 18 procedures the exclusive ways the federal government may do domestic electronic surveillance or acquire location information for people in the U.S., unless another law expressly authorizes a different method. The bill would preserve state and local record‑acquisition authorities as they existed the day before enactment. It would also end the older grandfathered Title V authority 180 days after enactment.
New limits on provider data and warrants
If enacted, intermediaries and providers would face stronger limits on giving customer data to government. The bill would bar intermediaries from knowingly disclosing stored message contents or customer records to government entities. It would treat location, web‑browsing, and search‑query records as warrant‑protected categories and limit web‑browsing warrants to 30 days unless extended with the same showing. The law would also raise standards for compelling personal data from non‑online providers and narrow technical‑assistance orders.
Stronger rules for vehicle and location tracking
If enacted, federal agents would usually need a court warrant to get covered vehicle data or to install or use tracking devices. Drivers or owners could give express, time‑limited consent in limited cases, and passenger objections (age 14+) can block operator consent. Emergency access would require a warrant application within 48 hours and may be treated as illegal if a later warrant is denied. Covered vehicle data taken in violation could not be used in any investigation or trial and must be destroyed.
Tighter limits on foreign‑intelligence collection
If enacted, the bill would sharply limit warrantless foreign‑intelligence collection and querying about people in the United States. It would ban reverse targeting and many covered queries about people known or believed to be in the U.S. unless a FISA order or a court warrant applies. Most Section 702‑derived covered information would have to be destroyed within 5 years unless segregated for pending litigation or used in specified investigations. The bill would also bar intelligence agencies from acquiring commercial datasets that contain covered personal identifiers except under narrow, listed exceptions and would add statutory definitions for key terms.
Attorney General one year delay
If enacted, the Attorney General could delay implementing any provision of this Act for up to one year. The AG must tell the appropriate congressional committees why the delay is needed to build technical systems or hire and train staff, and must coordinate with the Director of National Intelligence as appropriate.
More audits, reporting, and court review
If enacted, the bill would require more oversight of surveillance. Inspectors General must audit FISA and Section 702 orders and publish unclassified reports. The Attorney General must publish accuracy procedures and annual FBI FISA accuracy reports. The DNI must publish Section 702 estimates and expanded annual reporting. Courts would expand amicus participation and declassify important FISC and Court of Review decisions within 180 days when practicable. Judges and the Administrative Office must also report on warrants and provider involvement.
New remedies and employee accountability
If enacted, people would get clearer legal ways to sue over unlawful surveillance with defined injury tests for standing. The bill would require agencies to run internal investigations, centrally track violations, and use escalating discipline up to security‑clearance loss or termination for serious or repeated violations. The Attorney General would also have to publish public minimization procedures for voluntary disclosures to limit unnecessary use or retention of communications.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Cosponsors
Mike Lee
UT • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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