Bill · H.R. 7834· House(119-HR-7834)
Safe Cloud Storage Act
- Introduced
- 3/5/2026
- Last activity
- 9/17/2026 — Received in the Senate.
- Sponsored by
- Laurel Lee
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 2
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Awaiting Senate
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Safe Cloud Storage Act. It allows cloud service providers to store digital child pornography, child obscenity, and intimate visual depictions of minors for law enforcement agencies. The bill gives these approved vendors limited legal liability when they perform their contractual duties. It also sets strict cybersecurity and data location requirements for these vendors. Additionally, the legislation outlines how evidence must be retained and requires vendors to notify the Department of Justice under certain circumstances.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+7
Mandates NIST standards and end-to-end encryption for sensitive law enforcement data.
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Provides limited liability protections for companies providing storage services to government agencies.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?+6
Implements strict access controls and encryption for highly sensitive digital evidence.
The opposite
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-2
Limits the ability to bring civil claims against approved vendors for contractual performance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Cybersecurity Controls: Under Section 2(c), approved vendors must secure stored materials using the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework, employ end-to-end encryption, undergo independent annual cybersecurity audits, and limit employee access. This helps protect sensitive data from being leaked or improperly accessed.
-
Data Location Protections: Under Section 2(e)(1), approved vendors must ensure that stored materials remain within the United States unless the contracting law enforcement agency gives express consent for an investigative transfer. This keeps sensitive evidence under domestic jurisdiction.
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Clear Accountability for Misconduct: Under Section 2(b)(2), civil claims and criminal charges can still be brought against an approved vendor if they engage in intentional or negligent misconduct, act with actual malice, show reckless disregard for causing injury, or act for purposes unrelated to their contracted responsibilities. This ensures companies can be held responsible if they break the rules.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Legal Recourse Against Vendors: Under Section 2(b)(1), civil claims and criminal charges generally cannot be brought against an approved vendor in Federal or State court for performing their contractual obligations of storing or maintaining these materials. This limits the ability of individuals to sue these private entities unless specific exceptions like intentional misconduct or negligence are proven.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6Good For Children+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+7
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3Increases Job Creation+2Improves Economic Growth+1
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+1Improves Due Process-2
- 9/17/2026
- Received in the Senate.
- 9/16/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5936-5937)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7834.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5936-5938)
- Ms. Lee (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 9/8/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-804.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 703.
- 8/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 0.
- 6/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Harriet HagemanRepublican · Wyoming
Brad KnottRepublican · North Carolina
John McGuireRepublican · Virginia