H.R. 6617: Preserving American Privacy Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-26 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-26 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Preserving American Privacy Act of 2018

Plain summary

Preserving American Privacy Act of 2018 This bill restricts the use of public unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) to limit, to the maximum extent practicable, the disclosure of information collected by drones that is reasonably likely to enable identification of an individual or information about an individual's property that is not in plain view (covered information). The bill requires a governmental entity applying for a license to operate a drone to submit to the Department of Justice a data collection statement describing the purpose for which the drone will be used. The bill also prohibits the use of covered information collected by drones in legal proceedings and limits its use for law enforcement purposes. A governmental entity may only disclose such information for law enforcement purposes pursuant to a warrant, a court order, or in emergency circumstances. The bill prohibits: (1) the use of private drones to capture images of individuals in private activities who have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and (2) any investigative or law enforcement officer or private individual from operating a drone that is armed with a firearm.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Preserving American Privacy Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr6617.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr6617 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115