S. 3749: Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-05-14 · Health · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-05-14 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 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

Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

Plain summary

Public Health Emergency Privacy Act This bill imposes requirements on covered organizations concerning the privacy, confidentiality, and security of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency health data, which is data that is linked to an individual or device, such as test results. Covered organizations include those that collect, use, or disclose such data electronically or that develop or operate websites or applications for contact tracing and other COVID-19 response activities. Among other actions, covered organizations must provide notice of privacy and other policies, as well as ensure the accuracy of, prevent discrimination based on, and limit disclosure of the data. Covered organizations that collect data from at least 100,000 individuals must publicly report additional information about how they use and disclose the data. The bill also prohibits the use of emergency health data for commercial advertising or in ways that restrict access to opportunities, services, and other accommodations. In addition, government entities and covered organizations shall not use emergency health data to infringe on the right to vote. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the civil rights impact of the collection, use, and disclosure of health data. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, states, and a private right of action and specifies that pre-dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration, are unenforceable with respect to disputes arising under the bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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

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

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] · 12 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] reported raising $771,465 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (3)

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).
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116s3749.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/s>

Record fed-us-cong116-s3749 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116