Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
Sponsored By: Senator Bill Hagerty
Introduced
Summary
Bans merchant category codes that single out firearms retailers. The bill would forbid payment card networks and covered payment processors from requiring or assigning MCCs that identify gun or ammunition sellers and creates a Department of Justice enforcement framework.
Show full summary
- People who buy firearms: Would be less likely to have transactions tagged by a unique firearms MCC.
- Firearms retailers: Could not be placed into a distinct firearms MCC and would not gain a private right to sue under this law.
- Payment card networks and covered entities: Would be prohibited from assigning MCCs that distinguish firearms retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers.
- State and local governments: Could not enact or enforce laws regulating MCCs for firearm retailers.
- Department of Justice and oversight: The Attorney General would have to set up a complaint process within 90 days, investigate each complaint, give violators 30 days to fix issues, seek injunctions if remedy is not made, and deliver annual reports to Congress on investigations and effectiveness.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No special merchant codes for firearms retailers
If enacted, the bill would ban payment networks and processors from assigning merchant codes that single out firearms retailers. It would define terms like "firearms retailer," "payment card network," and "merchant category code." The Attorney General would enforce the rule and must set up a public complaint process within 90 days. After investigating, the AG would order fixes and may sue if violations are not fixed within 30 days. The bill would preempt state or local rules on merchant codes and would say that private lawsuits are not allowed under this section.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bill Hagerty
TN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
John Hoeven
ND • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov