Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026

This bill makes wide-ranging reforms to U.S. foreign intelligence surveillance authorities, including Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. It also prohibits federal law enforcement from buying personal data from data brokers and protects vehicle data from warrantless searches.

Title I, Protections for U.S. persons under Section 702: It adds warrant requirements for queries of U.S. persons' communications, limits use of such information in legal actions, prohibits reverse targeting of U.S. persons, sets data retention limits, requires court supervision of technical assistance demands, prohibits warrantless acquisition of domestic communications, requires a primary foreign intelligence purpose, mandates reports on sensitive queries, repeals expanded definitions of electronic communication service provider and expanded querying requirements, and extends Section 702 for four years.

Title II, Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act: It prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from obtaining personal data from data brokers in exchange for anything of value.

Title III, Additional FISA reforms: It requires court supervision for collection targeting U.S. persons, mandates consistent disclosures in FISA applications, strengthens accuracy procedures, clarifies treatment of evidence, sunsets a grandfather clause, requires a written record of DOJ interactions with the FISA court, expands amici curiae appointments, requires declassification of significant FISA court opinions, clarifies court jurisdiction over ancillary claims, establishes grounds for injury in fact in civil surveillance actions, creates accountability procedures for federal employee violations, and reforms exclusive means limitations.

Title IV, Reforms for foreign intelligence surveillance outside FISA: It defines terms, extends warrantless query protections to non-FISA surveillance, prohibits reverse targeting of U.S. persons, prohibits intelligence acquisition of U.S. person data, prohibits warrantless acquisition of domestic communications, sets data retention limits, and requires public reports on violations of law.

Title V, Independent oversight: It requires Inspectors General to audit FISA court order applications, provides whistleblower protections for intelligence community members communicating with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and requires congressional oversight of grants of immunity for warrantless surveillance assistance.

Title VI, Reforms to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986: It requires warrants for location information, web browsing records, and search query records; provides consistent protections for phone and app-based call and texting records; updates the Email Privacy Act; provides consistent protections for demands for data held by interactive computing services; requires warrants for real-time and historical metadata; limits subpoenas for subscriber information; requires minimization standards for voluntary disclosures; provides privacy protections for data held by data brokers; protects data entrusted to intermediary or ancillary service providers; modernizes criminal surveillance reports; and limits amendments to federal agencies.

Title VII, Protection of car data: It prohibits federal warrantless searches of vehicle data.

Title VIII, Intelligence transparency: It enhances annual reports by the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Director of National Intelligence, requires annual reporting on accuracy and completeness of applications, allows more granular aggregate reporting by recipients of FISA orders, requires a report on use of surveillance authorities regarding protected activities and classes, and requires publication of estimates of U.S. persons whose communications are collected under Section 702.

Title IX, Severability and limited delays: It includes a rule of construction regarding state and local law enforcement, a severability clause, and provisions for limited delays in implementation.