Search any bill in Congress.
Pull a bill's full text, sponsors, recent actions, and AI-powered plain-English analysis by entering its ID. Select your state to see how your own representatives voted.
Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act
The Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act aims to prohibit the use of automated mass surveillance systems by federal, state, and local government agencies. Specifically, it bans the purchase, deployment, operation, and maintenance of technologies such as automatic license plate readers, biometric surveillance systems, and facial recognition technology when funded by federal money. Agencies currently using these systems with federal funds must remove them within 30 days of the bill's enactment and delete any collected data within 7 days. Additionally, any data obtained through prohibited surveillance cannot be used as evidence in court or administrative proceedings. To receive certain federal grants, states and local governments must certify they do not use these surveillance systems. The bill defines automated mass surveillance broadly to include any technology that collects or processes data on large numbers of people, emphasizing privacy protections. This legislation matters because it addresses growing concerns about privacy, potential misuse of surveillance technology, and the impact on civil liberties. If enacted, it would significantly limit government surveillance capabilities funded by federal dollars and require the removal of existing systems, potentially changing law enforcement and public safety practices.
Key Points
Protects citizens' privacy by limiting government surveillance
May reduce law enforcement's ability to use technology for crime prevention and investigation
Who's Affected
Federal, state, and local government agencies
Must stop using and remove automated mass surveillance systems funded by federal money
Law enforcement agencies
Lose access to certain surveillance tools that aid in investigations and public safety
General public
Gain increased privacy protections from mass surveillance technologies
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Estimated Impact
HighProbability over time
See how this bill's passage probability has trended over the last 90 days — momentum is the strongest signal that something is actually moving in Congress.
The probability number itself stays public — only the trend history is gated.
Get the CivicAlign briefing, daily or weekly
New bills, votes and 2026 candidates in one short email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
