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May 28, 20261
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Bipartisan Amendment to Block Police License Plate Readers Killed in House Committee
A bipartisan amendment that would have blocked police license plate reader programs nationwide by restricting federal highway funding was defeated in a House committee on May 21, 2026. The amendment would have effectively ended Flock's law enforcement business, which operates the nation's largest LPR network across 5,000+ agencies. The amendment's failure occurred despite its bipartisan sponsorship, with investigation revealing lobbying connections between Flock and one sponsor's office.
Quick Facts
Who
Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)
What
Amendment 221 introduced to restrict LPR use to tolling only
When
May 20, 2026 (WIRED first reported)
Where
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Amendment 221 introduced to restrict LPR use to tolling only
- Amendment defeated in House committee markup
- Investigation of lobbying connections to amendment sponsor
- Bipartisan amendment voted down by committee leadership
- Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)
A bipartisan amendment that would have effectively ended police license plate reader (LPR) programs nationwide, including those operated by major vendor Flock, was defeated in a House committee markup on May 21, 2026. Amendment 221, sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Rep. Jesús García (D-IL), was introduced for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's consideration of the $580 billion BUILD America 250 Act. The amendment would have restricted federal highway funding recipients from using LPR cameras for anything other than toll collection, effectively requiring the removal of police LPR systems across the country since nearly all government entities accept Title 23 federal highway funding.
The amendment represented a significant escalation in political opposition to police surveillance technology, particularly targeting Flock, which operates the nation's largest LPR network across more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies and generates approximately 20 billion plate reads monthly. By conditioning roughly $53-57 billion in annual federal highway funding on the removal of police LPR systems, the amendment would have been existential to Flock's core law enforcement business. States and localities would have been forced to choose between maintaining their LPR programs and accepting federal transportation funding, a consequence few jurisdictions would likely accept given their historical reliance on these funds.
Despite bipartisan sponsorship, the amendment died quietly during the 14-hour committee hearing, with both committee chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-WA) voting against it. Investigation revealed that one of Flock's registered lobbyists previously served as chief of staff to co-sponsor García, raising questions about potential influence on the amendment's fate. Though the amendment ultimately failed, its introduction to a major House committee signals growing legislative momentum against police LPR programs and reflects intensifying scrutiny of Flock's surveillance operations at the federal level.
Why This Matters
This defeat signals a critical moment for police surveillance technology regulation in the U.S. Congress. While the amendment failed, its bipartisan introduction to a major House committee demonstrates growing legislative momentum against warrantless LPR programs and reflects intensifying public and political scrutiny of surveillance vendors. For privacy advocates, tech companies, and law enforcement agencies, the outcome underscores how federal funding levers can be weaponized in surveillance debates—and how lobbying influence may shape the trajectory of surveillance policy at the highest levels of government.
Timeline & Sources
May 20, 2026
WireWIRED first reports that Amendment 221 will be introduced
May 21, 2026
WireHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup occurs; Amendment 221 is defeated during 14-hour hearing