[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2724 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2724
To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply with address
confidentiality programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 4, 2025
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mrs. Capito) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply with address
confidentiality programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe at Home Act''.
SEC. 2. EXECUTIVE AGENCY AND FEDERAL COURT COMPLIANCE WITH STATE
ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAMS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Address confidentiality program.--The term ``address
confidentiality program'' means a program implemented pursuant
to State law that--
(A) provides a designated address;
(B) provides a mail-forwarding service; and
(C) is designated by a participant as the legal
agent of the participant to receive service of process.
(2) Designated address.--The term ``designated address''
means an address assigned by an address confidentiality program
for a participant to use in lieu of the physical address of the
participant.
(3) Executive agency.--
(A) In general.--The term ``executive agency'' has
the meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in
section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(B) Exception.--The term ``executive agency'' does
not include the Census Bureau.
(4) Participant.--The term ``participant'' means an adult
or minor who is enrolled in an address confidentiality program.
(5) Physical address.--The term ``physical address'' means
the actual home, school, or employment address of a
participant.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States,
the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the
United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(b) Acceptance of Address Confidentiality Program.--Each executive
agency and Federal court shall accept, for any purpose for which an
individual is required to provide an address to the agency or court, an
address designated to that individual pursuant to an address
confidentiality program.
(c) Exemption From Liability.--A participant shall not be subject
to Federal regulatory, civil, or criminal penalties for providing a
designated address in lieu of the physical address of the participant
to an executive agency or Federal court.
(d) Regulatory Compliance With Address Confidentiality Programs.--
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each
executive agency shall review and, as necessary, modify existing
regulations to comply with this Act.
(e) Compliance With Address Confidentiality Program Procedures and
Exemption From FOIA.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), in the
case of an executive agency or Federal court seeking to acquire
the physical address of a participant, the agency or court
shall comply with any applicable procedures of the applicable
address confidentiality program for acquiring such address.
(2) FOIA exemption.--Upon acquiring a physical address
under paragraph (1), the physical address--
(A) shall be considered confidential; and
(B) shall be exempt from disclosure under section
552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred
to as the ``Freedom of Information Act'') for the
purpose of subsection (b)(3) of that section.
(3) Law enforcement exception.--
(A) In general.--When the physical address of a
participant is relevant to a Federal criminal
proceeding, a Federal court may order the disclosure of
the physical address to relevant parties without regard
to the procedures of the relevant address
confidentiality program, including--
(i) court officers and employees;
(ii) supervision and probation officers;
(iii) prosecutors;
(iv) law enforcement officers; and
(v) any other party determined relevant by
the Federal court.
(B) Limitations.--If a Federal court orders the
disclosure of a physical address to a party under
subparagraph (A), the party--
(i) shall keep the physical address
confidential; and
(ii) may only use the physical address for
the purpose for which the Federal court orders
the disclosure.
(4) Administration exception.--If an executive agency
requires the physical address of a participant in order for the
executive agency to carry out the requirements of Federal law,
a Federal court may order the disclosure of the physical
address to the executive agency if the head of the executive
agency makes a written request to the relevant address
confidentiality program that maintains the record specifying--
(A) the particular portion of the record desired;
and
(B) the activity for which the record is sought.
(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to require an executive agency to be subject to an
audit performed by a State.
(f) Prompt Notification Upon Termination From Participation.--If
the participation of an individual in an address confidentiality
program is terminated, that individual shall promptly notify each
executive agency or Federal court that accepted a designated address
under subsection (b).
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