Skip to content
CIVIC HERALD
HR 1181 · 119th Congress · HouseIn committee

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

In plain language: This bill stops credit and debit card networks and payment processors from assigning or requiring special merchant category codes that identify businesses as gun and ammunition sellers. It overrides state and local laws that regulate or mandate firearm-specific payment codes, ensuring gun shops are processed under general retail codes. The U.S. Attorney General is responsible for investigating violations and taking noncompliant card companies to court, while standard fraud and cybersecurity protections remain in place.

Sponsored by

Provisionalunreviewed: impact, issue tags, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—The text does not state or quantify the number of firearms retailers, payment processors, or consumers affected.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach
provisional · pending review50rigor: heuristic llm
Your matchSign in →See how this matches your values.

Issues

What this bill touches.

Personal data & privacy+25Firearms−30Federal vs. state/local+30Banking/financial rules+35

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Provisional: our reading of who it affects, pending review.

Who it helps

  • Firearms and ammunition retailersSec. 2(a) protects firearms and ammunition sellers from being required or assigned merchant category codes that specifically identify them as firearms businesses, and Sec. 2(b)(1) gives them the ability to file complaints with the Attorney General.provisional

Who it burdens

  • Payment card networksSec. 2(a)(1) prohibits payment card networks from requiring retailers or payment processors to use or assign firearms-specific merchant category codes, and Sec. 2(b) subjects them to federal investigation, 30-day remediation orders, and potential civil injunctions.provisional
  • Payment processing entitiesSec. 2(a)(2) bans payment processors and transaction intermediaries from assigning firearms-specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers, and Sec. 2(b) exposes them to Department of Justice investigations and federal court enforcement.provisional
  • Department of JusticeSec. 2(b) and Sec. 2(d) require the Attorney General to set up a public complaint system within 90 days, investigate all submitted complaints, enforce compliance through written notices and federal injunctions, and submit an annual report to Congress.provisional

Who opposes it

  • State and local regulatory authoritiesSec. 2(c)(1) explicitly preempts and invalidates state and local laws that regulate the assignment, use, or disclosure of firearms-specific merchant category codes.provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

Provisional: our reading of what the bill does, pending review.

Show all 5 provisions

  1. Bars payment card networks from requiring firearms retailers or payment processors to use or assign merchant category codes specific to businesses selling firearms, ammunition, or gun accessories.

    Sec. 2(a)(1)provisional

  2. Bars payment processing entities from assigning firearm-specific merchant category codes to gun and ammunition retailers.

    Sec. 2(a)(2)provisional

  3. Directs the Attorney General to establish a complaint process within 90 days, investigate alleged violations, provide 30 days for violators to correct non-compliance, and file federal lawsuits to stop ongoing violations, while barring private lawsuits.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  4. Preempts state and local laws regulating firearms-specific merchant category codes, while preserving compliance with laws regarding fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and suspicious activity.

    Sec. 2(c)provisional

  5. Requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing investigation counts, outcomes, and data on the law's effectiveness.

    Sec. 2(d)provisional

  1. Bars payment card networks from requiring firearms retailers or payment processors to use or assign merchant category codes specific to businesses selling firearms, ammunition, or gun accessories.

    Sec. 2(a)(1)provisional

  2. Bars payment processing entities from assigning firearm-specific merchant category codes to gun and ammunition retailers.

    Sec. 2(a)(2)provisional

  3. Directs the Attorney General to establish a complaint process within 90 days, investigate alleged violations, provide 30 days for violators to correct non-compliance, and file federal lawsuits to stop ongoing violations, while barring private lawsuits.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  4. Preempts state and local laws regulating firearms-specific merchant category codes, while preserving compliance with laws regarding fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and suspicious activity.

    Sec. 2(c)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

Loading your members of Congress…

The record

How members voted on Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act.

Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.

  • House · Jul 14, 2026 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Passage · Passed

    Source →

  • House · Jul 14, 2026 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Motion to Recommit · Failed

    Source →

Timeline

How it moved.

Show all 23 actions
  1. Jul 15, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  2. Jul 14, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Jul 14, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240). (text: CR H4441-4442)
  4. Jul 14, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240).
  5. Jul 14, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 217 (Roll no. 239).
  6. Jul 14, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4451-4452)
  7. Jul 14, 2026POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1181 the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Frost demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  8. Jul 14, 2026The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
  9. Jul 14, 2026Mr. Frost moved to recommit to the Committee on Financial Services. (CR H4445)
  10. Jul 14, 2026The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  11. Jul 14, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1181.
  12. Jul 14, 2026Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237 and H.R. 1181. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181 under a closed rule, and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule with one hour of debate and one motion to reconsider on each bill.
  13. Jul 14, 2026Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1423. (consideration: CR H4441-4445)
  14. Jul 14, 2026Rule H. Res. 1423 passed House.
  15. Jul 13, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1423 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237 and H.R. 1181. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181 under a closed rule, and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule with one hour of debate and one motion to reconsider on each bill.
  16. Jun 23, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, H.R. 9022, H.R. 8595 and H.R. 9237. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1181 and H.R. 9237 under a closed rule and H.R. 9022 and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  17. Feb 25, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 447.
  18. Feb 25, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-522.
  19. Dec 17, 2025Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 23.
  20. Dec 17, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  21. Dec 16, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  22. Feb 11, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  23. Feb 11, 2025Introduced in House
  1. Jul 15, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  2. Jul 14, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Jul 14, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240). (text: CR H4441-4442)
  4. Jul 14, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240).
  5. Jul 14, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 217 (Roll no. 239).
  6. Jul 14, 2026Rule H. Res. 1423 passed House.
  7. Jul 13, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1423 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237 and H.R. 1181. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181 under a closed rule, and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule with one hour of debate and one motion to reconsider on each bill.
  8. Jun 23, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, H.R. 9022, H.R. 8595 and H.R. 9237. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1181 and H.R. 9237 under a closed rule and H.R. 9022 and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  9. Feb 25, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-522.
  10. Dec 17, 2025Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 23.
  11. Feb 11, 2025Introduced in House

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Read the original text →

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 2 months ago

Cite this page

Civic Herald. “Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act (H.R. 1181, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-1181. Congress.gov record as of Aug 20, 2026.

Checking your session…