Sponsors (4)
The bill speeds access to device location for emergency response and adds recordkeeping for accountability, but does so by lowering warrant protections and creating risks of misuse and modest operational costs.
People in imminent danger (callers to 911) and responding officers can have a device’s recent location disclosed to them quickly (within 48 hours) to help locate and rescue those at risk.
People facing immediate life-threatening situations (and their families) can get faster help because officers may disclose location data when they reasonably believe delay would increase risk and consent cannot be obtained.
Local agencies and oversight actors gain a required recordkeeping trail (officer name, declaration, consent/effort) for emergency location requests, improving accountability and auditability of disclosures.
Users’ privacy protections are reduced because providers can be required to disclose location data without a warrant in many emergency situations.
Officers can rely on reasonable suspicion and failed consent attempts to obtain location data, creating a risk of misuse or overbroad requests if oversight is insufficient.
Providers and local agencies may face operational burdens and costs to respond rapidly and retain records, costs that could be passed along to consumers or taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires providers to promptly disclose device location to law enforcement/911 in certain emergencies with consent or exigent circumstances and mandates request documentation and next-of-kin priority.
Introduced March 2, 2026 by Derek Schmidt · Last progress March 2, 2026
Requires providers of electronic communications to quickly disclose available location information of a telecommunications device to law enforcement or 911/PSAP personnel in specific emergency situations. Disclosure is allowed when the device contacted a 911 center in the prior 48 hours or when officers reasonably suspect the device is with someone facing imminent risk of death or serious physical harm, and only if subscriber or next-of-kin consent is obtained or reasonable efforts to get consent failed and delay would increase risk. The request must be documented and certain state law requirements remain in effect.