A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through May 21, 2026, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Ron Wyden

Extends the FAA 2008 Title VII authorities for three weeks (to May 21, 2026) while requiring public release, with redactions, of a key FISC 702 opinion.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill S.4444 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

S.4444 aims to extend the authorities under Title VII of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (FAA 2008) for three weeks, delaying expiration of those authorities from April 30, 2026 to May 21, 2026.

The bill also requires the public release (with necessary redactions) of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) opinion related to Section 702, specifically the March 17, 2026 memorandum opinion and order, as part of transparency measures.

Key provisions

Public release of FISC opinion (Section 1)

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in consultation with the Attorney General, must publicly release the FISC memorandum opinion and order dated March 17, 2026.
The release should protect intelligence sources and methods, allowing redactions as necessary.

Three-week extension of Title VII authorities (Section 2)

Extension of repeal date: Amends Section 403(b) of the FAA 2008 to extend the sunset/repeal date of Title VII from April 30, 2026 to May 21, 2026.
- Paragraph (1) updates the repeal date for the 50 U.S.C. 1881 note reference.
- Paragraph (2) updates the repeal date language in the 18 U.S.C. 2511 note reference.
Effective date: The amendments take effect on the earlier of the enactment date of this act or April 29, 2026.

Affected parties and scope

U.S. national security and intelligence authorities: Extends the peak period during which the Section 702 authorities under Title VII of the FAA 2008 can be utilized.

Public and oversight: Requires public disclosure of a significant FISC order/opinion to increase transparency, subject to redactions to protect sources and methods.

Executive branch agencies: DNI and the Department of Justice, in coordination, must implement the public release.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Introduction and referral: Introduced in the Senate on April 30, 2026 by Senator Ron Wyden (co-sponsor).

Committee action: Referred to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for consideration.

Effective timing: The extension would take effect at the earlier of enactment or April 29, 2026, ensuring continuity if enacted promptly.

Public release deadline: The DNI, with the Attorney General, must publicly release the March 17, 2026 FISC opinion as soon as practicable but no later than May 12, 2026.

Potential impact and considerations

Operational impact: Short-term extension preserves existing international surveillance authorities under Title VII for a brief period (through May 21, 2026), avoiding a lapse.

Transparency and oversight: Public release of the FISC opinion enhances transparency around Section 702 decisions, though with redactions to protect sensitive information.

Contingent timing: If enacted, the extension ensures continued legal authority for U.S. foreign intelligence activities until late May 2026, potentially pending longer-term legislative decisions.

This summary reflects the bill’s stated text and stated purposes as introduced.