Idaho’s First District Congressman Russ Fulcher has joined as a co-sponsor of federal legislation that would require law enforcement agencies at the federal level to obtain a judicial warrant before tapping into surveillance data held by state and local governments.

What the Bill Does

The measure, H.R. 9716 — formally titled the Protecting Rights in Video and Equipment Acquired Discovery (PRIVACY) Act — covers a range of surveillance technologies, including automated license plate readers, cameras that capture vehicle occupants, long-range microphones, and electronic fingerprint detection systems. The Attorney General would also have authority to designate substantially similar technologies under the bill’s scope.

Beyond the warrant requirement, the legislation would cap how long federal agencies can hold onto data gathered under such a warrant at 30 days, unless the information serves as evidence in an active prosecution or a court approves a limited extension. The bill also bars federal funds from being used to purchase or install these types of intrusive technologies, with some exceptions carved out.

Fulcher’s Position

Fulcher framed the bill as a straightforward Fourth Amendment issue. “If the federal government wants to access state and local systems’ data on citizens, they need to get a warrant,” he told the Gem State Chronicle.

The Meridian-area lawmaker, a fourth-generation Idahoan who grew up working on a dairy farm, served a decade in the Idaho State Senate before winning his congressional seat in 2019. He has built a legislative record that emphasizes limited government and individual liberties.

This co-sponsorship aligns with a broader pattern among Idaho’s delegation of pushing back against what members see as federal overreach into state and local affairs. Fellow Congressman Mike Simpson recently championed increased federal funding for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons program, while Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a multi-state effort scrutinizing major auditing firms over climate-related ties — each reflecting distinct ways the delegation has engaged federal institutions on Idaho-specific concerns.

What Comes Next

H.R. 9716 was introduced in the House and will need to advance through committee before reaching the floor. Privacy-related surveillance legislation has historically attracted bipartisan interest, though the bill’s prospects will depend on committee scheduling and broader congressional priorities heading into the fall session.

For Idaho voters, the measure represents Fulcher’s continued focus on civil liberties protections against federal encroachment — a consistent theme in his tenure representing the state’s First District.