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HR859 On Senate Calendar

Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act

Bill Text

Version EH
This Act may be cited as the Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act.
Each manufacturer of a covered device shall disclose, clearly and conspicuously and prior to purchase, whether the covered device manufactured by the manufacturer contains a camera or microphone as a component of the covered device.
A violation of section 2 shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
The Federal Trade Commission (in this Act referred to as the Commission) shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
Any person who violates this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, through outreach to relevant private entities, shall issue guidance to assist manufacturers in complying with the requirements of this Act, including guidance about best practices for making the disclosure required by section 2 as clear and conspicuous and age appropriate as practicable and about best practices for the use of a pictorial (as defined in section 2(a) of the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 (15 U.S.C. 45b(a))) visual representation of the information to be disclosed.
A manufacturer of a covered device may petition the Commission for tailored guidance as to how to meet the requirements of section 2 consistent with existing rules of practice or any successor rules.
No guidance issued by the Commission with respect to this Act shall confer any rights on any person, State, or locality, nor shall operate to bind the Commission or any person to the approach recommended in such guidance. In any enforcement action brought pursuant to this Act, the Commission shall allege a specific violation of a provision of this Act. The Commission may not base an enforcement action on, or execute a consent order based on, practices that are alleged to be inconsistent with any such guidelines, unless the practices allegedly violate section 2.
As used in this Act, the term covered device—
means a consumer product, as defined by section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)) that is capable of connecting to the internet, a component of which is a camera or microphone; and
does not include—
a telephone (including a mobile phone), a laptop, tablet, or any device that a consumer would reasonably expect to have a microphone or camera;
any device that is specifically marketed as a camera, telecommunications device, or microphone; or
any device or apparatus described in sections 255, 716, and 718, and subsections (aa) and (bb) of section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 255; 617; 619; and 303(aa) and (bb)), and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
This Act shall apply to all covered devices manufactured after the date that is 180 days after the date on which guidance is issued by the Commission under section 3(c), and shall not apply to covered devices manufactured or sold before such date, or otherwise introduced into interstate commerce before such date.

Legislative Timeline

17 actions
  1. Apr 30, 2025 Senate
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 64.
  2. Apr 29, 2025 House
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1710-1711)
  3. Apr 29, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 9 (Roll no. 109). (text: 04/28/2025 CR H1666-1667)
  4. Apr 29, 2025 House
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 9 (Roll no. 109). (text: 04/28/2025 CR H1666-1667)
  5. Apr 29, 2025 House
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. Apr 28, 2025 House
    Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  7. Apr 28, 2025 House
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1666)
  8. Apr 28, 2025 House
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 859.
  9. Apr 28, 2025 House
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  10. Apr 24, 2025
    Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-72.
  11. Apr 24, 2025 House
    Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-72.
  12. Apr 24, 2025 House
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 49.
  13. Apr 8, 2025 House
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  14. Apr 8, 2025 House
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
  15. Jan 31, 2025
    Introduced in House
  16. Jan 31, 2025
    Introduced in House
  17. Jan 31, 2025 House
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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