Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens individual privacy, oversight, and remedies for improper use of cell-site simulators but imposes procedural, fiscal, and operational constraints that may slow or limit law-enforcement's ability to use the technology for investigations and urgent responses.
Individuals (including immigrants and people-with-disabilities) gain stronger privacy protections because the bill bans warrantless domestic use of cell-site simulators and makes unlawfully obtained data generally inadmissible while adding judicial safeguards (warrant standards, narrow area/time, minimization, destruction) that limit surveillance scope and incidental collection.
Victims of unlawful targeting (e.g., taxpayers) receive a private civil cause of action with statutory damages (up to $500 per violation), providing a clear route to remedy and deterrence against misuse.
Taxpayers and state/local governments get improved accountability and transparency through IG reporting requirements and public DOJ minimization procedures governing government use of cell-site simulators.
Federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies face higher compliance costs and an increased risk that evidence will be excluded, which could hinder investigations and prosecutions.
Law enforcement operations that require persistent tracking or broader geographic/time coverage may be impeded by the bill's short initial warrant duration (maximum 30 days) and tight geographic/time limits.
Correctional facilities and other agencies may experience operational delays in lawful use of the technology because of new testing, certification, and Attorney General delay provisions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes most uses of cell-site simulators illegal in the U.S., creates narrow warrant and limited emergency exceptions, imposes fines up to $250,000, and excludes improperly obtained data from court.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Ted Lieu · Last progress July 29, 2025
Prohibits most uses of cell-site simulators in the United States and restricts certain overseas use by U.S. intelligence when the target is a U.S. person. The measure creates a new federal crime with fines up to $250,000, makes evidence gathered in violation generally inadmissible, and establishes a narrow judicial warrant process plus a limited emergency exception that sets strict geographic, temporal, and procedural requirements for authorized use.