HR 8966 — Subpoena Abuse Prevention Act

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html May 21, 2026

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends 18 U.S.C. § 2703 to prohibit certain uses of administrative subpoenas concerning customer communications and records, and establishes new requirements and reporting for such subpoenas.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)

  subparagraph (C)

  Subparagraph (C) concerning disclosures requiring an administrative subpoena is removed.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)(2)

  provided that for any administrative, grand jury, or trial subpoena, the governmental entity identifies the subscriber or customer by name, address, temporarily assigned network address, or account identifier (such as a username)

  This new phrase requires the identification of the subscriber or customer for subpoenas.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)

  (4) Protections for constitutionally protected activities.-- (A) In general.--A governmental entity may not use a subpoena to require the disclosures described in paragraph (2) if a purpose of the subpoena is to-- (i) investigate, monitor, or otherwise acquire information about activities, or any person's engagement in activities, that are exercises of free speech, press, religion, assembly, or petition, or are otherwise protected by the Constitution of the United States; or (ii) retaliate against any person for their engagement in activities that are exercises of free speech, press, religion, assembly, or petition, or are otherwise protected by the Constitution of the United States.

  This addition prohibits using subpoenas to investigate or retaliate against constitutionally protected activities.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)

  (B) Required certification.-- (i) In general.--A governmental entity using a subpoena to require the disclosures described in paragraph (2) from a service provider shall provide a certification under penalty of perjury attesting that the subpoena is being made for a legitimate and lawful purpose, and not with a purpose described in subparagraph (A)-- (I) to the service provider; and (II) when applying for a preclusion of notice order under section 2705(b), to the court in such application. (ii) Absence of certification.--A subpoena to require the disclosures described in paragraph (2) from a service provider shall not be valid, and a preclusion of notice order under section 2705(b) for such subpoena shall not issue, unless the subpoena includes the certification described in clause (i).

  This requires certification that the subpoena has a legitimate purpose, making it invalid without this certification.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)

  (5) Required disclosures to service provider.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B)-- (i) the service provider-- (I) may notify a customer or subscriber of the receipt of the subpoena; and (II) may consult with an attorney in order to obtain legal advice or assistance regarding the subpoena; and (ii) the government entity shall inform the service provider that it-- (I) is not being directed to not notify any other person of the existence of the subpoena; (II) may notify the customer or subscriber of the receipt of the subpoena; and (III) may consult with an attorney in order to obtain legal advice or assistance regarding the subpoena. (B) Exception for nondisclosure orders.--If a governmental entity described in subparagraph (A) obtains a preclusion of notice order under section 2705(b)-- (i) such order may limit the right of the service provider described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I); and (ii) the governmental entity shall modify the required disclosures described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii) to be consistent with the terms of the order.

  This change generally allows service providers to notify customers of subpoenas and seek legal advice, with exceptions for certain nondisclosure orders.

• 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)

  (6) Reporting of federal use of administrative subpoenas.--Each Federal governmental entity that uses an administrative subpoena to require the disclosure of information under this subsection shall annually publicly publish a report containing, for the 1-year period preceding the date of the report-- (A) the number of administrative subpoenas issued by the governmental entity, disaggregated by the statutory authority under which the administrative subpoenas were issued; and (B) the number of accounts for which the governmental entity received information through an administrative subpoena, disaggregated by the statutory authority under which the administrative subpoenas were issued.

  This mandates annual public reporting of the use of administrative subpoenas by federal governmental entities.

Action History

1. May 21, 2026

   Introduced in House

2. May 21, 2026

   Introduced in House

3. May 21, 2026

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

• Thomas Massie · Cosponsor
• Robin L. Kelly · Cosponsor
• Eric Burlison · Cosponsor
• Adriano Espaillat · Primary

Subjects