Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (12 May 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
What this bill does
S. 1715, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, would prohibit payment card networks and other entities involved in processing credit, debit, or prepaid card transactions from requiring or assigning a special merchant category code that separately identifies firearms retailers, distinguishing them from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. Merchant category codes are standardized numeric codes used to classify what type of business a merchant operates for payment-processing purposes.
The bill primarily affects payment card networks, banks and other "covered entities" that assign these codes, and firearms retailers, who sell firearms or ammunition. It would bar the creation or use of a distinct code for firearms sales, effectively requiring such sales to be categorized the same as general or sporting goods retail. The Attorney General would be responsible for enforcement, including investigating complaints, issuing notices requiring violations to be fixed within 30 days, and seeking court injunctions if violations are not corrected. The bill would preempt state or local laws regulating these codes for firearms retailers and does not create a private right to sue. It also requires annual reports to Congress on enforcement activity.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 12, 2025, by Senator Bill Hagerty along with several cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It has not yet been voted on, and further action—such as committee consideration, amendment, or a floor vote—would be required before it could become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
12 May 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 1715 do?
- S. 1715, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, would prohibit payment card networks and other entities involved in processing credit, debit, or prepaid card transactions from requiring or assigning a special merchant category code that separately identifies firearms retailers, distinguishing them from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. Merchant category codes are standardized numeric codes used to classify what type of business a merchant operates for payment-processing purposes. The bill primarily affects payment card networks, banks and other "covered entities" that assign these codes, and firearms retailers, who sell firearms or ammunition. It would bar the creation or use of a distinct code for firearms sales, effectively requiring such sales to be categorized the same as general or sporting goods retail. The Attorney General would be responsible for enforcement, including investigating complaints, issuing notices requiring violations to be fixed within 30 days, and seeking court injunctions if violations are not corrected. The bill would preempt state or local laws regulating these codes for firearms retailers and does not create a private right to sue. It also requires annual reports to Congress on enforcement activity. The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 12, 2025, by Senator Bill Hagerty along with several cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It has not yet been voted on, and further action—such as committee consideration, amendment, or a floor vote—would be required before it could become law.
- Has S. 1715 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1715. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1715?
- S. 1715 was sponsored by Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN] (R-TN), with 32 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1715?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (12 May 2025).
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