Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced
Summary
Allows prisons and jails to run cellphone jammers inside inmate housing and limits the FCC's ability to block that use. The bill would define what a jamming system is and confine its operation to the facility's housing areas.
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- People held in the facility: Wireless communications sent to or from contraband devices and communications by or to individuals held in the facility could be blocked inside housing areas.
- Correctional facility operators: State and federal facilities would be allowed to operate jamming systems. If a facility is run by a State, the State must pay the full cost to buy and run the system.
- Local public safety and federal prison officials: Facilities must consult local law enforcement and other public safety officials before using a system and must notify the Director of the Bureau of Prisons.
- Federal regulators: The bill would limit the Federal Communications Commission's power to prevent state or federal facilities from operating these jammers.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow prisons to jam cell signals
This bill would bar the FCC from stopping State or Federal prisons and jails from operating jamming systems inside the facility. The systems would be used only to block wireless messages to or from contraband devices or by or to people held there. Jamming would be limited to the housing areas where the system is installed. Before using a system, the facility would have to consult local law enforcement and public safety officials. The facility would also have to notify the Director of the Bureau of Prisons before starting. If a State runs the system, the State would pay all costs, including operation.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
AR • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Bill Hagerty
TN • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov