---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 1885b"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "1885b"
heading: "Preemption"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/1885b"
units:
  - "Chapter 36 — Foreign Intelligence Surveillance"
  - "Subchapter VII — Protection of Persons Assisting the Government"
---

# §1885b. Preemption

- (a) **In general—** No [State](/usc/50/1885.md?p=9) shall have authority to—
  - (1) conduct an investigation into an [electronic communication service provider](/usc/50/1885.md?p=6)’s alleged [assistance](/usc/50/1885.md?p=1) to an element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/1885.md?p=7);
  - (2) require through regulation or any other means the disclosure of information about an [electronic communication service provider](/usc/50/1885.md?p=6)’s alleged [assistance](/usc/50/1885.md?p=1) to an element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/1885.md?p=7);
  - (3) impose any administrative sanction on an [electronic communication service provider](/usc/50/1885.md?p=6) for [assistance](/usc/50/1885.md?p=1) to an element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/1885.md?p=7); or
  - (4) commence or maintain a [civil action](/usc/50/1885.md?p=2) or other proceeding to enforce a requirement that an [electronic communication service provider](/usc/50/1885.md?p=6) disclose information concerning alleged [assistance](/usc/50/1885.md?p=1) to an element of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/1885.md?p=7).
- (b) **Suits by the United States—** The [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) may bring suit to enforce the provisions of this section.
- (c) **Jurisdiction—** The district [courts](/usc/50/1881.md?p=b-2) of the [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) shall have jurisdiction over any [civil action](/usc/50/1885.md?p=2) brought by the [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) to enforce the provisions of this section.
- (d) **Application—** This section shall apply to any investigation, action, or proceeding that is pending on or commenced after July 10, 2008.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–511, title VIII, § 803, as added Pub. L. 110–261, title II, § 201, July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2470.)