H.R. 6019 · Passed House · Congress

To repeal certain provisions relating to notification to Senate offices regarding legal process on disclosure of Senate data, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Austin Scott (R-GA)

What it does

• Repeals a Senator's authority to sue the federal government over an internet service provider or the Senate Sergeant at Arms disclosing office data to a federal agency without required notice.
• Applies to a cause of action, enacted in the fiscal year 2026 continuing appropriations law, that covers qualifying instances on or after January 1, 2022.
• Removes damages of the greater of $500,000 per violation or actual damages, plus attorney's fees and related costs.
• Relates to a provision requiring the provider or the SAA to give a Senate office written notice upon receiving legal process seeking covered data.

Official summary

This bill repeals the authority for a Senator to bring a civil action against the federal government if an internet service provider or the Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) accessed or disclosed, or accesses or discloses, data from the Senator's office to provide to a federal agency without following prescribed notice requirements. The authority applies to a qualifying instance occurring on or after January 1, 2022. The authority for the civil action was enacted in H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 , which was signed by the President on November 12, 2026. The relevant provision requires written notice from the internet service provider or the SAA to the Senate office upon receipt of any legal process seeking access or disclosure of covered data. A Senator affected by a federal violation of the provision may sue the federal government for the greater of $500,000 per violation or the actual damages, plus attorney's fees and related costs.

Latest action

Nov 20, 2025: Received in the Senate.

Committee: House Committee on House Administration