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Bill

SD 490

Cape and Islands District Attorney 2024 Wiretap Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Requires Cape and Islands District Attorney to annually report wiretap application numbers, authorizations, and outcomes to Legislature for public transparency and oversight of surveillance practices.

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Bill Summary · SD 490

Legislative bill overview

This bill requires the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office to submit an annual report detailing wiretap activities, including the number of applications, authorizations, interceptions, and outcomes. The report would be filed with the Legislature and made available to the public, creating transparency around surveillance operations in that judicial district.

Why is this important

Wiretap oversight is a critical accountability mechanism, as electronic surveillance represents significant intrusions into privacy rights. Public reporting allows legislators and constituents to monitor whether surveillance tools are being used proportionately and effectively, and can identify patterns of abuse or overuse in specific jurisdictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Law enforcement concerns: DA offices may argue that detailed public reporting on wiretap activities could compromise ongoing investigations, reveal investigative techniques, or tip off criminal organizations about surveillance capabilities and targets.
  • Privacy and specificity: Questions about what level of detail is reportable—names, case types, durations—and how to balance transparency with protecting innocent parties who may be incidentally intercepted.
  • Administrative burden: Creating standardized reporting requirements across different DAs' offices involves compliance costs and potential inconsistencies in how different jurisdictions track and report the same data.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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