# 119-hr-10563: Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2026

119-hr-10563, Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10563
- As of: 2026-10-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-10563
- Congress: 119
- Title: Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-22

## Summary

This bill would create **a nationwide moratorium on biometric surveillance**. It would stop federal agencies from acquiring or using facial recognition and other biometric systems and would withhold Byrne law‑enforcement grants from state or local governments that do not adopt similar bans. - Federal agencies and officials would be barred from acquiring, possessing, accessing, or using biometric surveillance systems or information derived from them in the United States unless Congress passes a law that explicitly permits specific uses and sets accuracy, retention, audit, and civil rights safeguards. It would still allow National Institute of Standards and Technology testing and research. - State and local governments would be ineligible for Byrne grant program funds unless they adopt laws or policies substantially similar to the federal prohibition. - Individuals could sue the federal government for violations and most biometric information obtained in violation would be inadmissible in investigations and proceedings. Courts could award actual and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and injunctive relief, states could sue as parens patriae, and federal officials could face retraining, suspension, or termination.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Federal biometric surveillance ban: benefit, high. If enacted, federal agencies and officials would be barred from acquiring, possessing, accessing, or using biometric surveillance systems in the United States. Federal law enforcement would not be able to obligate or spend federal funds to buy or use those systems. Congress could create narrow exce…
- You could sue over biometric misuse: benefit, medium. If enacted, individuals would be able to sue the federal government when a federal official used biometric information in violation of this bill. Courts could award actual and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and injunctive relief. Evidence obtained in violation generally could not be used…
- Law enforcement grants tied to ban: mixed, medium. If enacted, a State or local government would be ineligible for Byrne law-enforcement grants unless it has a law or policy substantially similar to the federal biometric ban. This rule would begin on the first day of the first fiscal year after the Act is enacted. Jurisdictions that keep or buy bio…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
- 119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hres-1058: Recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect and codify the rights of transgender…

## Sources
- [119-hr-10563 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10563)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3069)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hres-1058: Recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implem…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1058)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10563 (as of 2026-10-22).