Safe Connections Act of 2022

We are thrilled that H.R. 7132, the “Safe Connections Act of 2022,” was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Introduced by U.S. Congresswomen Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2) and Anna Eshoo (CA-18), if enacted into law this bipartisan bill would give survivors of abuse the ability to remove themselves from family phone plans safely and easily without any termination fees. The Senate passed a similar version of the bill (S. 120) in March.

For many years, survivors have been locked-in to family phone plan contracts that impact their privacy and safety. Abusive partners misuse family phone plans as part of a harmful pattern of control. Many plans have features that give access to sensitive information such as a survivor’s location, call and text message history, or voicemails. These features can then be used by an abuser to monitor, stalk, threaten and harass a survivor. NNEDV urges Congress to reconcile the bills quickly pass the Safe Connections Act into law.

Learn more about Safe Connections Act of 2022 here and here.

December 2022 Update: The Safe Connections Act of 2022 has been signed into law! We are proud to have supported this legislation and look forward to the ways in which it will benefit survivors who need to leave shared phone plans as part of their journey toward safety and healing.