To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8322
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Became Law
- Became Law
- Public Law 119-84
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-18: Became Public Law No: 119-84.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T10:29:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8322
Purpose
This bill extends the surveillance authorities under Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA)—which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect foreign intelligence information—through April 30, 2026. FISA is a law that regulates government surveillance for national security purposes, and Title VII (added in 2008) includes programs targeting non-U.S. persons abroad.
Key Provisions
- Extends repeal date: Amends Section 403(b) of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to delay the automatic repeal (sunset) of Title VII until April 30, 2026.
- Updates transition rules: Modifies Section 404(b) to align transition procedures (rules for shifting from old to new surveillance processes) with the new repeal date, including updated headings and references.
- Effective date: Changes take effect on the earlier of the bill's enactment or April 19, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Pushes back the previous sunset date for Title VII (set by prior laws like the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act) from an earlier expiration to April 30, 2026.
- Cleans up legal language in repeal and transition sections by removing outdated references to past amendments and inserting the new date and statutory citations.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Enables agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI to continue warrantless surveillance of foreign targets (e.g., under Section 702) without interruption, supporting counterterrorism and foreign intelligence efforts.
- Citizens: Maintains incidental collection of U.S. persons' communications (data "caught" while targeting foreigners), which must follow minimization rules to protect privacy, but does not introduce new protections or restrictions.
- International relations: Sustains U.S. ability to monitor foreign threats, potentially aiding alliances but risking tensions if perceived as overreach.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies (e.g., NSA, FBI): Primary beneficiaries for ongoing operations.
- Congress and oversight bodies (e.g., FISA Court): Retain authority to review and reauthorize programs.
- Privacy and civil liberties groups (e.g., ACLU): Often oppose extensions due to concerns over domestic privacy.
- U.S. citizens and residents: Indirectly affected by potential data collection.
- Foreign governments and entities: Targets of surveillance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Prevents a lapse in key surveillance tools, avoiding operational disruptions; aligns with periodic congressional reviews required for FISA authorities.
- Constitutional: Relates to Fourth Amendment debates on warrantless searches—courts have upheld Title VII but require safeguards for U.S. persons' data.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan efforts to balance national security with privacy amid ongoing debates; short-term extension signals likely future negotiations before 2026.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-18: Became Public Law No: 119-84.
- 2026-04-18: Became Public Law No: 119-84.
- 2026-04-18: Signed by President.
- 2026-04-18: Signed by President.
- 2026-04-17: Presented to President.
- 2026-04-17: Presented to President.
- 2026-04-17: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-04-17: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S1829-1830)
- 2026-04-17: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
- 2026-04-17: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-04-17: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H2955)
- 2026-04-17: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H2955)
- 2026-04-17: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H2955)
- 2026-04-17: Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) discharged.
- 2026-04-17: Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) discharged.
Bill Versions
- An Act To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-17 — PDF (4 pages)
- An Act To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-18 — PDF (2 pages)
- An Act To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through April 30, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-17 — PDF (3 pages)