Federal privacy legislation in 2026: The 49 bills reshaping US data privacy law
The IAPP tracker counts 49 proposals as lawmakers split over preemption, private lawsuits and new rules for AI, children and data brokers.
- The IAPP's September 2026 tracker identifies 49 distinct legislative proposals in the 119th Congress, signaling a shift toward building targeted federal privacy rules rather than awaiting one comprehensive statute.
- For years, U.S. privacy discussions centered on whether Congress would pass a GDPR-style statute, but the 119th Congress is advancing narrower rules for AI, children, health information, data brokers, and employee monitoring.
- Only two of these tracked proposals have become law so far: the TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed May 19, 2025, and the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, signed September 5, 2025.
- Congress is increasingly targeting data brokers, differentiating between companies collecting data directly from customers and intermediaries accumulating information without direct relationships.
- Preemption remains a consequential hurdle, as the Future of Privacy Forum counted 21 comprehensive state privacy laws when the SECURE Data Act was introduced in April 2026.
51 Articles
51 Articles
Federal privacy legislation in 2026: The 49 bills reshaping US data privacy law - The Mexico Ledger
The United States still does not have a single comprehensive federal privacy law resembling the GDPR.That does not mean Congress is standing still.Quite the opposite.By September 2026, lawmakers in the 119th Congress had introduced a sprawling collection of federal proposals addressing consumer privacy, artificial intelligence, children’s data, employee surveillance, reproductive information, precise location data, financial information, connect…
Missoulian
Federal privacy legislation in 2026: The 49 bills reshaping US data privacy law
Captain Compliance reports that by September 2026, 49 federal privacy bills are shaping U.S. data privacy law, with a focus on children's privacy, AI, and comprehensive legislation.
Federal privacy legislation in 2026: The 49 bills reshaping US data privacy law - Stateline Publications
The United States still does not have a single comprehensive federal privacy law resembling the GDPR.That does not mean Congress is standing still.Quite the opposite.By September 2026, lawmakers in the 119th Congress had introduced a sprawling collection of federal proposals addressing consumer privacy, artificial intelligence, children’s data, employee surveillance, reproductive information, precise location data, financial information, connect…
Federal privacy legislation in 2026: The 49 bills reshaping US data privacy law - Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
The United States still does not have a single comprehensive federal privacy law resembling the GDPR.That does not mean Congress is standing still.Quite the opposite.By September 2026, lawmakers in the 119th Congress had introduced a sprawling collection of federal proposals addressing consumer privacy, artificial intelligence, children’s data, employee surveillance, reproductive information, precise location data, financial information, connect…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 89% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
