Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill makes it illegal for anyone to use a cell-site simulator (a device that mimics a cell tower to track phones) without a warrant, with fines up to $250,000 for violations. This creates the first comprehensive federal standard for regulating these surveillance tools.
• To get a warrant, law enforcement must prove that other tracking methods have failed or are too dangerous, specify the area and time of use, and certify the operation is as narrow as possible. Judges must deny warrants that would put public safety at risk.
• Emergency exceptions allow use without a warrant when there is immediate danger of death, serious injury, organized crime activity, or a national security threat, but police must apply for a warrant within 48 hours afterward.
• People whose phones are swept up by a cell-site simulator must be notified within 90 days. Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court, and people tracked illegally can sue for damages up to $500 per violation plus attorney fees.
• Four Inspectors General must jointly publish annual reports to Congress on how often these devices are used, how many bystander phones are caught in the sweep, and which agencies have them. These reports must include an unclassified public version.
• The main provisions take effect 2 years after enactment, with an additional year for older cell-site simulator models already in use if the Attorney General certifies more time is needed for independent testing.