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HR10606119th CongressWALLET

FLAFO Act

Sponsored By: Representative Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

Introduced

Summary

Limits federal use of automated license plate readers. This bill would prohibit federal agencies from buying, leasing, operating, or accessing certain networked ALPR systems and generally require a warrant for access, with narrow emergency and national security exceptions.

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  • Limits federal agencies from buying, leasing, operating, or accessing covered ALPR systems. A warrant is required to access networked vehicle-location data except to find a missing person, respond to an imminent life‑threatening emergency, or in investigations linked to terrorism or espionage.
  • Exempts specific national security and border roles for the United States Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy when performing listed security, border, or facility protection duties. Those agencies may share information with each other for those activities.
  • Penalizes operators who knowingly give federal agencies improper access with up to 5 years in prison and civil fines up to $100,000. The bill also creates a private right of action for people harmed by violations, allowing damages and injunctive relief.
  • Conditions Department of Justice funding on states, localities, and tribes adopting substantially similar ALPR limits and requires annual certification by the Attorney General that they comply.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Limits on federal license-plate tracking

This bill would bar Federal agencies from buying, leasing, operating, accessing, requesting, or sharing data from covered automated license-plate reader systems. A covered system is one that stores or searches vehicle-location data across networks, across jurisdictions, or uses AI to track vehicles by non-plate features. Federal agencies would only be able to access networked covered-system data with a warrant, except in three narrow situations: to find a missing or endangered person, to stop an imminent threat of death or serious injury (including kidnapping), or to investigate someone believed linked to terrorism, espionage, sabotage, or as an agent of a foreign power. Federal officers who knowingly violate these prohibitions would face criminal penalties up to 5 years, civil fines up to $100,000, and a private right of action where sovereign or qualified immunity could not be used as a defense.

Penalties for license-plate system operators

This bill would create federal criminal and civil penalties for people or companies that operate covered license-plate reader systems and knowingly give Federal agencies access or data except as allowed. Operators in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce could face up to 5 years in prison, fines under title 18, civil penalties up to $100,000, and private lawsuits from anyone harmed. If enacted, this would increase legal risk for companies that sell, host, or share networked ALPR data with federal agencies.

Security and border agency exceptions

This bill would exempt certain national security and border activities from the federal ban. The Secret Service would be exempt when doing protective duties under its law. Customs and Border Protection would be exempt for border security, immigration or customs enforcement, ports of entry or checkpoints, and certain cross‑border criminal investigations like human smuggling and narcotics trafficking. The Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Energy would be exempt for operations at military, Coast Guard, nuclear, or other national security sites for access control, force protection, physical security, counterespionage, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism. These agencies would also be able to share ALPR data with other federal agencies for those listed purposes.

DOJ grants require license-plate rules

This bill would make Department of Justice federal grants conditional on state, local, and tribal agencies putting in place rules substantially similar to this Act. A State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe would need to adopt and implement those requirements to get DOJ funds. The Attorney General would certify each jurisdiction’s compliance every year. If enacted, this could push local law enforcement to change how they buy, use, or share automated license-plate reader data to keep DOJ money.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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