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119-hr-9076119th Congress

Postal Data Privacy Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

Introduced

Summary

Requires court orders for mail covers and sets preservation and retention rules. This bill would limit when government can collect mail-cover data and would require the Postal Service to preserve records while courts decide.

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  • Households and mail recipients would gain stronger privacy. Agencies would need to show specific, articulable facts that a mail cover is relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation before a court could approve it.
  • Federal and state investigators would be blocked from using mail covers without a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction. State authorities could be prevented from obtaining an order if state law forbids it.
  • The Chief Postal Inspector and the U.S. Postal Service would have to preserve requested mail-cover records pending a court order and retain them for 90 days, extendable once by another 90 days.
  • The bill would tie the legal meaning of “mail cover” to the federal postal regulation (39 CFR 233.3) and add the new restriction as section 1738 in the criminal code.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New rules for mail surveillance

If enacted, the bill would bar a government entity from using a mail cover unless a court orders it. A court could only order a mail cover after the government shows specific and articulable facts. Those facts must give reasonable grounds to believe the cover is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. For state agencies, a court could not issue an order if state law forbids it. If enacted, the Chief Postal Inspector would preserve Postal Service records when a government agency asks while legal process is pending. Preserved records would be kept for 90 days and may be extended one time for another 90 days after a renewed request. The bill defines "mail cover" by referring to the Postal Service rule at 39 C.F.R. 233.3.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2026

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2026

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2026

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 6/4/2026

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/4/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 6/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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