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H.R. 10263House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act of 2026

Sponsored by Russ FulcherRep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Introduced September 3, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 4, 2026 at 9:20 AM UTC

The Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act of 2026 seeks to stop lawsuits that use federal or state surveillance and eavesdropping statutes—such as pen‑register, wiretap, trap‑and‑trace, and California’s Invasion of Privacy Act—against routine digital‑commerce activities. It would protect businesses, service providers, advertisers, and other commercial entities that collect, process, or share online data as part of selling or supporting products and services.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits any claim or enforcement action under pen‑register, wiretap, trap‑and‑trace, eavesdropping, or similar privacy laws when the data collection, processing, or disclosure is for a commercial purpose.
  • Bars any such claims or actions that were already in progress on the date the law takes effect from continuing, being adjudicated, or arbitrated.
  • Defines “commercial purpose” to include business operations, marketing, consumer interaction, and any sale or purchase activity conducted online.
  • Defines “digital commerce” as the promotion, sale, purchase, delivery, or support of products or services using online tools such as cookies, pixels, chatbots, and analytics.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 3, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 3, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 3, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 3, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10263

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 3, 2026

Mr. Fulcher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To clarify the applicability of certain Federal and State laws for conducting routine digital commerce, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act of 2026.

2.

Applicability of certain laws to collection, processing, or disclosure of information or communications for a commercial purpose

(a)

Applicability

(1)

In general

The collection, processing, or disclosure of information or communications for a commercial purpose shall give rise to no claim or enforcement action under Federal or State law with respect to pen registers, wiretapping, trap and trace, or eavesdropping, including chapter 1.5 of the Penal Code of California (commonly known as the California Invasion of Privacy Act).

(2)

Expiration of certain claims and actions

Any such claim or enforcement action in progress as of the date of the enactment of this Act may not be maintained, adjudicated, or arbitrated after such date.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Commercial purpose

The term commercial purpose includes the use of digital commerce for—

(A)

the operations of a business or a service provider or contractor to a business;

(B)

marketing or advertising;

(C)

prompting, receiving, or responding to consumer input;

(D)

facilitating the sale or purchase of goods or services; or

(E)

any commercial or business purpose as defined under law or regulation of a State in which the collection, processing, or disclosure of information occurs.

(2)

Digital commerce

The term digital commerce means the promotion, sale, purchase, delivery, or support of products or services through connected digital networks and tools, including through the use of cookies, pixels, session replay, chatbots, tags, and analytics.