Contact Congress about H.R. 7738: Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026
This bill would limit how long criminal surveillance orders can stay secret. It would require more notice to people whose data was collected and more public reporting about these tools.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Latest action on H.R. 7738: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people whose data is searched, law enforcement agencies, courts, and companies that hold customer records. People would be more likely to learn later that the government got their data. Courts and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts would have to build systems for filing, unsealing, online access, and public reports. State and Tribal courts could face a choice: follow the new rules to use or enforce some surveillance orders, or risk losing those benefits.
Why this matters: Secret surveillance can affect people without them knowing for months or longer. This bill would push courts and law enforcement to explain secrecy, end it on time, and give notice when possible. It could make surveillance easier for the public, judges, and lawmakers to understand. It could also make some investigations harder if records become public sooner than law enforcement wants.
Key provisions in H.R. 7738
- Creates a new chapter 206A in Title 18 of federal criminal law. It defines “criminal surveillance orders” broadly, including search warrants, wiretaps, pen registers, tracking devices, certain data orders, and related secrecy or assistance orders.
- Surveillance orders, applications, and inventory records generally could not stay sealed after the search is carried out or the monitoring ends. The government would need to certify that release could cause a specific “adverse result,” meaning a serious harm listed in the law.
- Courts could first seal records for up to 180 days. They could allow one more 180-day extension with a renewed certification, but later extensions would need detailed proof and review of whether redactions could replace full sealing.
- The government would have to tell the court quickly when secrecy or delayed notice is no longer needed. The court could then unseal the records or end the notice delay.
- Courts would have to post public online docket records for surveillance cases as open government data. The records would include key facts like the legal authority used, crime type, agency, sealing or delay requests, and final result.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 7738
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 7738
- What is H.R. 7738?
- This bill would limit how long criminal surveillance orders can stay secret. It would require more notice to people whose data was collected and more public reporting about these tools.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 7738?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 7738?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 7738 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
