Bill · S. 490· Senate(119-S-490)
Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/6/2025
- Last activity
- 2/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S796-797)
- Sponsored by
- Charles Schumer
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Americans' Privacy Act of 2025" makes it unlawful for certain individuals to access or control the Department of the Treasury's public money receipt or payment systems. It specifically targets access by individuals who are not long-term Federal employees or contractors, as well as certain high-level employees or those with conflicts of interest. The bill allows people harmed by these violations to file civil lawsuits to recover damages. Furthermore, it amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the disclosure of tax return information through these payment systems to specific individuals.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+9
The bill provides strong legal protections and significant damages for individuals whose sensitive tax and financial data is accessed without authorization.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?+8
The bill protects personal financial and tax information from unauthorized access by specific government employees.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill protects the privacy of all taxpayers, including those on low incomes who rely on federal payment systems.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Legal Recourse for Harmed Individuals: Under Section 2(b)(1), any persons harmed by unauthorized access to the payment systems can file civil actions in district or state courts. This provides a way for people to hold violators accountable.
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Financial Recovery through Damages: Section 2(b)(2) and (3) allow for the recovery of relief including preliminary/equitable relief, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney's fees. Additionally, courts may award damages equal to the greater of actual damages or $250,000 for each unauthorized access.
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Protection of Taxpayer Information: Section 3(a) amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that no return or return information is disclosed through access to the public money receipt or payment systems of the Department of the Treasury to specific prohibited individuals.
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Increased Damages for Taxpayer Violations: Section 3(b)(1) amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to seek up to $250,000 in damages if a prohibited individual inspects or discloses their return information through negligence or knowing violation.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Joint and Several Liability: According to Section 2(b)(4), any individual who violates the prohibition on unauthorized access, or anyone who facilitates such access, can be held jointly and severally liable. This means one person could be held responsible for the entire amount of the damages.
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 High Income Households+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+9Improves Government Transparency+3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+8
- 2/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S796-797)
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts