This bill was introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on the Judiciary. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and has not yet been scheduled for a vote. The bill is still active as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
While there is strong support for national security, bills that target specific nationalities often face long debates and legal challenges regarding civil rights.
Key Points
This bill makes it illegal to take photos, record videos, or track specific high-value military equipment. This includes famous aircraft like the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and planes used for nuclear commands. It also protects military bases that house these important assets.
The rules are much stricter for citizens of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. If a person from one of these countries is caught filming these assets, the law will automatically assume they intended to harm the United States unless they can prove they had official permission.
People who break this law could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $100,000. Additionally, the government would seize any cameras, phones, or other devices used to record the images. Foreign citizens convicted of these crimes would have their visas revoked and be deported.
The bill updates current laws to include modern technology. It specifically mentions digital photos, live-streaming video over the internet, and images that have been enhanced using artificial intelligence.
The Department of Defense would be required to create a public list of these protected assets and bases every year. They would also have to put up signs and markers around these areas to warn people that taking pictures or videos is strictly against the law.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Apr 30, 2026Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Apr 30, 2026
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act
Bill NumberS 4461
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
