Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act of 2025

Summary

Creates a new privacy protection for ATF firearm trace records and certain records that gun dealers and licensees must keep or report, by adding those records to the list of FOIA exemptions. It also authorizes the Attorney General to fine state, local, tribal, or foreign entities that unlawfully disclose that protected information (two-tier fines, assessed per item disclosed), and gives firearms licensees a private right to sue those entities for large statutory or treble damages, punitive damages, and fees. The bill includes definitions, a severability clause, and a preservation of other legal remedies.

• Adds ATF Firearm Trace System contents and certain firearms licensee records to FOIA exemptions, shielding them from public disclosure under FOIA.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to impose civil fines on state, local, tribal, or foreign entities that disclose protected information after enactment.
• Establishes two fine tiers: $10,000 for first/remote violations and $25,000 for repeat/other violations, assessed per individual piece disclosed.
• Allows the Attorney General to sue to enforce or collect fines and forbids sharing protected information with entities fined $25,000 for one year.
• Creates a private right of action for holders of 18 U.S.C. § 923 licenses to sue disclosing entities and waives sovereign immunity.
• Gives plaintiffs remedies of treble damages or $25,000 per disclosed item (whichever is greater), punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.
• Defines covered terms, preserves other legal remedies, and includes a severability clause.
• No explicit appropriation or effective date is specified in the provided text.