# 119-s-4738: A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, protections relating to warrantless queries for the communications of United States persons, and for other purposes.

119-s-4738, A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, protections relating to warrantless queries for the communications of United States persons, and for other purposes., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-06-24).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4738
- As of: 2026-06-24
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4738
- Congress: 119
- Title: A bill to implement reforms relating to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, protections relating to warrantless queries for the communications of United States persons, and for other purposes.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-24

## Summary

**Tighter limits on warrantless queries** of communications involving covered persons and people located in the United States, and new rules that force agencies to log and justify every targeted query and access. It would also extend the repeal date for Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments by nine months to March 12, 2027, with an effective date set at the earlier of enactment or June 11, 2026. - Individuals: Narrows when agencies can query or view communications tied to covered persons or people in the United States. Access is allowed only under narrow exceptions such as concurrent authorization, consent, emergency, or defensive cybersecurity and must include a facts-based justification. - Agencies and oversight: Creates special court and congressional review paths, requires annual compliance assessments by the Attorney General, and mandates a report to Congress within 90 days about meeting the new query-recording rules. - Records and systems: Requires detailed electronic logs for every query and every access that record date, requester or accessor identifier, terms used, and a justification. Agency heads must ensure attribution for automated queries and accesses.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Limits on warrantless searches of your communications: benefit, high. This bill would sharply limit when federal agents can query communications collected under Section 702 without a warrant. Queries would generally have to be reasonably likely to find foreign intelligence and have a significant foreign intelligence purpose. Warrantless access to results would be bar…
- Delay end of foreign surveillance authority: cost, high. This bill would push back the scheduled repeal date for Title VII foreign intelligence authorities (commonly called Section 702). The repeal date would move from June 12, 2026 to March 12, 2027. The change would take effect on the earlier of enactment or June 11, 2026. If enacted, Section 702 colle…

## Related bills

- 119-s-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-4738 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4738)

## Related
- [119-s-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-891)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4738 (as of 2026-06-24).