H. Rpt. 119-574 accompanies infrastructure legislation titled "Kari's Law Reporting Act". Infrastructure bills affect highways, bridges, airports, transit, water systems, broadband, ports, or federal buildings. The Energy and Commerce Committee's report describes the infrastructure need, the proposed federal investment or regulatory change, and projected economic and community benefits. Infrastructure reports typically include analysis of safety, efficiency, environmental impact, and regional effects.
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House Report 119-574 - KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT
[House Report 119-574]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-574
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KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT
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March 26, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Guthrie, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5201]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 5201) to direct the Federal Communications
Commission to publish a report on implementation of the Kari's
Law Act of 2017, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and
recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Committee Action................................................. 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Oversight Findings and Recommendations........................... 5
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 5
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 5
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 7
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 7
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 7
Related Committee and Subcommittee Hearings...................... 7
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 8
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....... 8
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 8
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 8
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 8
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 5201, Kari's Law Reporting Act, was introduced on
September 8, 2025, by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). It would require the Federal
Communications Commission to publish a report on implementation
of the Kari's Law Act of 2017.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Kari's Law was enacted on February 16, 2018. The bill was
named in honor of Kari Hunt, who was killed by her estranged
husband in a motel room in Marshall, Texas in 2013. Ms. Hunt's
9-year-old daughter tried to call 911 for help four times from
the motel room phone, but the call did not go through because
the motel's phone system required dialing ``9'' for an outbound
line before dialing 911.\1\
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\1\Fed. Commc'n. Comm'n., FCC 911 Requirements for MLTS Managers,
Operators, and Installers Fact Sheet (2025) https://www.fcc.gov/sites/
default/files/FCC-911-Requirements-for-Multi-Line-Telephone-
Systems.pdf.
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Kari's Law requires direct 911 dialing capabilities in
multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) found often in office
buildings, campuses, and hotels. These systems must be pre-
configured to support direct dialing of 911. Furthermore,
installers, managers, and operators of the systems must also
ensure that they support 911 direct dialing. The statute
establishes that these requirements must be met by February 16,
2020, and apply to MLTS that are manufactured, imported,
offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or
installed after February 16, 2020. Kari's Law also includes a
notification requirement that would notify a central point of
an MLTS that a 911 call has taken place on the system and is
intended to facilitate building entry by first responders. In
August 2019, the FCC adopted rules to implement Kari's Law.\2\
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\2\Id.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
On September 9, 2025, the Subcommittee on Communications
and Technology held a hearing entitled, ``Public Safety
Communications in the United States.'' The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
Steve Newton, Emergency Management Director,
Chatham County Emergency Management
Sheriff Shannon Dicus, San Bernadino County
Dr. Brian Fontes, Former Chief Executive
Officer, National Emergency Number Association
Randall C. Wright, Executive Director, WUFT/
WRUF, Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, and
Project Beacon
On December 16, 2025, the Subcommittee on Communications
and Technology held a legislative hearing entitled,
``Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in
the United States.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Captain Jack Varnado, President of APCO
International and 9-1-1 Director of Livingston Parish
Sheriff's Office
Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of
Regulatory Affairs and International Strategy, AST
SpaceMobile
Matthew Gerst, Partner, Wilkinson Barker
Knauer, LLP
Jeannette Sutton, PhD, Associate Professor
of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland
Security and Cybersecurity, University at Albany
On January 15, 2026, the Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology met in open markup session and forwarded H.R. 5201,
without amendment, to the full Committee by voice vote. On
January 21, 2026, the full Committee on Energy and Commerce met
in open markup session and ordered H.R. 5201, without
amendment, favorably reported to the House by a record vote of
46 yeas and 0 nays.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the
record votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. The following reflects the record votes taken during
the Committee consideration:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII, the Committee held a hearing and made findings that
are reflected in this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND
TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that H.R. 5201 would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII, the following is
the cost estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Summary of legislation: On January 21, 2026, the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered 11 bills to be
reported. This document provides estimates for 3 of those bills
that amend reporting and regulatory requirements for the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Estimated Federal cost: This cost estimate does not include
any effects of interactions among the bills. If all three bills
were combined and enacted as a single bill, the effects could
be different from the sum of the separate estimates. The costs
of the legislation fall within budget function 370 (commerce
and housing credit).
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
bills will be enacted in fiscal year 2026 and that the
estimated amounts will be available. CBO estimates that each
bill would increase spending subject to appropriation. Any
related spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds.
H.R. 2076, Lulu's Law, would require the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to issue a rule that shark
attacks are an event for which wireless emergency alerts may be
transmitted.
Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that
the administrative costs to implement H.R. 2076 would be
insignificant over the 2026-2031 period. Because the FCC is
authorized to collect fees each year sufficient to offset the
appropriated costs of its regulatory activities, CBO estimates
that the net cost to the FCC would be negligible, assuming
appropriation actions consistent with that authority.
On June 11, 2025, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S.
1003, Lulu's Law, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 30, 2025. The
two bills are similar, and CBO's estimates of their costs are
the same.
H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, would require the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold an annual
public hearing and report about all the disasters within the
past year that caused its Disaster Information Reporting System
to be activated for at least seven days. In addition, the bill
would require the FCC to report on network outages.
Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 5200 would cost less than $500,000 over the
2026-2031 period. Because the FCC is authorized to collect fees
each year sufficient to offset the appropriated costs of its
regulatory activities, CBO estimates that the net cost to the
FCC would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions
consistent with that authority.
H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act, would direct the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on its
enforcement of section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934,
or Kari's Law. That law requires manufacturers and sellers of
multi-line telephone systems to preconfigure such systems to
allow direct dialing of 9-1-1.
Based on the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 5201 would cost less than $500,000 over the
2026-2031 period. Because the FCC is authorized to collect fees
each year sufficient to offset the appropriated costs of its
regulatory activities, CBO estimates that the net cost to the
FCC would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions
consistent with that authority.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None of the bills would
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits:
None of the bills would increase net direct spending or on-
budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods
beginning in 2037.
Mandates: All three bills would impose private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
H.R. 2076, Lulu's Law, would increase the cost of an
existing private-sector mandate if the FCC increases annual fee
collections to offset the costs of implementing the provisions
in H.R. 2076. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the
mandate would be small and would fall well below the annual
threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($214
million in 2026, adjusted annually for inflation).
H.R. 2076 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in UMRA.
H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, would increase the
cost of an existing private-sector mandate if the FCC increases
annual fee collections to offset the costs of implementing the
provisions in H.R. 5200. CBO estimates that the incremental
cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below
the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector
mandates ($214 million in 2026, adjusted annually for
inflation).
H.R. 5200 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in UMRA.
H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act, would increase the
cost of an existing private-sector mandate if the FCC increases
annual fee collections to offset the costs of implementing the
provisions in H.R. 5201. CBO estimates that the incremental
cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below
the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector
mandates ($214 million in 2026, adjusted annually for
inflation).
H.R. 5201 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: David Hughes,
Mandates: Rachel Austin.
Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance,
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen
FitzGerald, Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit; H. Samuel
Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to
determine the extent to which multi-line telephone system
manufacturers are complying with the Kari's Law Act of 2017.
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 5201 is known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
RELATED COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
related hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 5201:
On September 9, 2025, the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled,
``Public Safety Communications in the United States.''
The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Steve Newton, Emergency
Management Director, Chatham County Emergency
Management;
Sheriff Shannon Dicus, San
Bernadino County;
Dr. Brian Fontes, Former Chief
Executive Officer, National Emergency Number
Association; and,
Randall C. Wright, Executive
Director, WUFT/WRUF, Florida Public Radio
Emergency Network, and Project Beacon
On December 16, 2025, the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology held a legislative
hearing entitled, ``Legislative Improvements to Public
Safety Communications in the United States.'' The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Captain Jack Varnado, President
of APCO International and 9-1-1 Director of
Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office;
Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice
President of Regulatory Affairs and
International Strategy, AST SpaceMobile;
Matthew Gerst, Partner,
Wilkinson Barket Knauer, LLP; and,
Jeannette Sutton, PhD, Associate
Professor of the College of Emergency
Preparedness, Homeland Security and
Cybersecurity, University at Albany
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
EARMARK, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 5201 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that the Act may be cited as the
``Kari's Law Reporting Act.''
Section 2. Report on implementation of Kari's Law Act of 2017
Subsection (a) requires a report within 180 days which
shall include a summary of the extent to which multi-line
telephone system manufacturers and vendors have complied with
such section, potential difficulties and obstacles in complying
with such section, potential ways, if necessary, to improve the
policies of the Commission to better enforce such section, and
recommendations to Congress, if necessary, on further
legislation that could mitigate problems like those that are
addressed by such section.
Subsection (b) defines the terms ``Commission,'' as meaning
the Federal Communications Commission, and ``Multi-Line
Telephone System,'' as the meaning given in section 721(f) of
the Communications Act of 1934.
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