H.R. 10263, titled the 'Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act of 2026,' aims to prevent lawsuits against businesses for collecting, processing, or sharing user information and communications when done for commercial purposes. This protection applies to federal and state laws governing wiretapping, eavesdropping, and electronic surveillance, including California's strict Invasion of Privacy Act. The bill broadly defines commercial purposes to include business operations, marketing, responding to customer input, and facilitating sales, as well as any other commercial activity defined by state law. Any existing lawsuits filed under these privacy laws would be immediately dismissed and could not proceed after the bill's enactment. The legislation effectively shields digital commerce companies from privacy-based litigation related to common data collection practices like cookies, pixels, and analytics tools.
H.R. 10263 was introduced in the 119th Congress by Russ Fulcher (Republican) and is currently listed as “Introduced”. It is classified under the Law policy area, one of 60 bills in that area we track this Congress.
Russ Fulcher is the sponsor of 4 bills in our database this Congress, so H.R. 10263 is part of a broader legislative agenda rather than a one-off proposal.
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 10263 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Law is 2.1/10.
Supporters of H.R. 10263 argue that the bill provides much-needed clarity and protection for businesses engaged in routine digital commerce. By preventing lawsuits based on existing privacy laws, the legislation allows companies to collect and process user data essential for operations, marketing, and customer engagement without the threat of legal action. Proponents believe this will foster innovation and growth in the digital economy by reducing legal uncertainties and compliance burdens.
Critics of H.R. 10263 contend that the bill undermines consumer privacy protections by exempting businesses from liability under federal and state surveillance laws. They argue that by broadly defining 'commercial purposes,' the legislation could allow companies to exploit user data without sufficient oversight or accountability. Opponents are concerned that this could lead to increased data misuse and erosion of individual privacy rights, as existing legal avenues for addressing potential abuses would be eliminated.
The analysis of H.R. 10263, sponsored by Russ Fulcher, indicates a low risk of conflicts of interest based on the sponsor's top donor industries. The primary donor industries include Health Professionals, contributing $120 million, and Retired individuals, contributing $37.5 million. However, there are no direct overlaps between these donor industries and the subject matter of the bill, which focuses on digital commerce regulations. This lack of overlap suggests that the financial interests of the sponsor's donors are unlikely to influence the legislative outcome of this bill. Voters should be aware that while the sponsor has significant financial backing from specific industries, it does not appear to create a conflict in this instance as the bill does not pertain to those sectors.
Top industries funding Russ Fulcher, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
What does H.R. 10263 do?
H.R. 10263, titled the 'Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act of 2026,' aims to prevent lawsuits against businesses for collecting, processing, or sharing user information and communications when done for commercial purposes. This protection applies to federal and state laws governing wiretapping, eavesdropping, and electronic surveillance, including California's strict Invasion of Privacy Act. The…
Has H.R. 10263 received a floor vote?
No roll-call vote on H.R. 10263 is recorded in our database yet. Its current status is “Introduced”.
Does H.R. 10263 have a conflict of interest?
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 10263 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Law is 2.1/10. This score reflects overlap between the sponsor’s campaign funding, lobbying activity, and the industries the bill affects. It is a transparency indicator, not an accusation.
What is the status of H.R. 10263?
H.R. 10263 is currently “Introduced” as of our last update on September 11, 2026.
Who sponsored H.R. 10263?
H.R. 10263 was sponsored by Russ Fulcher (Republican).
