US Federal Senate Bill SB1715

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/12/25
• Refer: 5/12/25

Caption

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

Summary

SB 1715, the “Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act,” would bar payment card networks and other covered entities from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that single out firearms retailers as distinct from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. In practical terms, the bill is aimed at preventing the use of merchant category codes to identify or track purchases at gun stores or ammunition sellers based on their business type. The bill defines key terms such as firearms retailer, ammunition, payment card network, covered entity, and merchant category code, and it applies to transactions processed through credit, debit, and prepaid card systems. It also gives the Attorney General primary enforcement authority, requires a complaint process, allows the Department of Justice to investigate and seek injunctions for unresolved violations, and directs annual reporting to Congress on investigations and the law’s effectiveness.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would create a federal rule governing how merchant category codes may be used for firearms retailers and would preempt any state or local laws that regulate merchant category codes for firearm retailers. It would limit the ability of card networks, processors, and related entities to classify gun retailers in a way that distinguishes them from broader retail categories, while also eliminating any private right of action and placing enforcement exclusively with the Attorney General.

Sentiment

The available legislative record shows introduction and referral only, with no committee transcript or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s sponsors and framing, the measure appears to be supported by lawmakers concerned with privacy and the treatment of lawful firearms commerce, while its purpose suggests opposition from those who favor merchant-category-code tools for financial monitoring or firearms-related risk detection. Overall sentiment in the available materials is limited but indicates a privacy- and firearms-industry-protective posture.

Contention

The central point of contention is whether merchant category codes for firearms retailers are a legitimate privacy or discrimination concern, as the bill’s supporters imply, or a useful financial classification tool that should remain available to card networks and processors. Another likely dispute is federal preemption: the bill would override state and local efforts to regulate these codes, which could draw criticism from states or advocates seeking broader oversight. The bill also concentrates enforcement in the Justice Department and bars private lawsuits, which may be viewed as either a safeguard against abuse or a limitation on remedies, depending on the stakeholder.