Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill makes it illegal for anyone, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to use cell-site simulators (fake cell towers that trick phones into connecting) without a warrant from a judge. Violations carry fines up to $250,000, and people tracked illegally can sue for damages.
• To get a warrant, police must prove that other investigative methods have failed or are too dangerous, specify the area and time of use, and certify that their request is the narrowest possible. Warrants are capped at 30 days and can be extended only with fresh court approval.
• Warrant applications must disclose whether the device could block 911 calls, suicide hotlines, or poison control calls in the area. Courts must weigh the government's need against potential harm to bystanders and cannot approve warrants that put public safety at risk.
• Any evidence collected with a cell-site simulator in violation of the law is excluded from court proceedings. The bill defines 'derived' broadly to block the government from claiming the evidence would have been found anyway.
• Emergency exceptions let police use the devices without a warrant when there is immediate danger of death, serious injury, or a threat to national security, but they must apply for a warrant within 48 hours. Prisons may also use the technology to find contraband phones if they follow FCC rules.
• The core provisions take effect two years after enactment, with a possible three-year delay for older cell-site simulator models already in use. Annual inspector general reports to Congress will track compliance across federal agencies.

Votes

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