TheBillRoom Privacy Policy

How TheBillRoom.org handles your data

Effective date: May 4, 2026  ·  Last updated: May 8, 2026

What We Collect

TheBillRoom.org is designed to minimize data collection. We do not require user accounts, logins, or personal information to use this site.

When you visit, our server may automatically log:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and operating system
  • Pages visited and timestamps
  • Referring URL

This data is stored in standard web server logs and is used solely to monitor site performance and troubleshoot issues.

Bill View Tracking

We track which bills are viewed (by bill ID, not by user) to power our "Trending Bills" feature. This data is anonymous and cannot be used to identify individual visitors.

Cookies & Local Storage

TheBillRoom.org does not set first-party cookies. We do store a small preference key in your browser's localStorage (tbr_pwa_banner) to remember whether you have dismissed the "Install App" banner. This contains no personal information and never leaves your device. Third-party services loaded on the site may set their own cookies according to their respective privacy policies.

Third-Party Services

We use the following external services to operate the site:

  • Cloudflare — CDN and DDoS protection. May log request metadata per Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.
  • Google Fonts — Serves web fonts. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Bootstrap CDN (jsDelivr) — Serves CSS/JS framework files.
  • Font Awesome CDN — Serves icon fonts.
  • Google Analytics — Aggregated site usage analytics. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Twitter / X — We publish automated bill summaries to our public X account. No user data is shared with X in this process.
  • TikTok — We publish short-form civic education videos to our TikTok account using TikTok's Content Posting API. See the TikTok Integration section below for full details.

We do not use Facebook Pixel or any advertising trackers.

TikTok Integration — "TheBillRoom" App

TheBillRoom.org operates a TikTok developer application named "TheBillRoom" (registered with TikTok for Developers). This application is used exclusively by TheBillRoom.org administrators to publish short-form videos about U.S. Congressional legislation to our official TikTok account (@thebillroom).

What data "TheBillRoom" app accesses:

  • user.info.basic — Basic profile information (display name, avatar) for our own connected TikTok account, used solely to verify that the account connection is active. This information is not stored beyond the current session and is not shared with any third party.
  • video.upload — Permission to upload video files to our TikTok account as drafts. Videos are created by TheBillRoom staff and contain AI-generated summaries of public legislative information. No site visitor content is ever uploaded.
  • video.publish — Permission to directly publish uploaded videos to our TikTok profile. Used to complete the posting workflow after upload. Only content created by TheBillRoom staff is published through this scope.

How we use TikTok data: The TikTok account credentials and access tokens used by "TheBillRoom" app are stored securely on our server and are used only to authenticate our own account for video publishing. We do not collect, store, analyze, or share any TikTok data belonging to other TikTok users, including viewers of our TikTok account.

What we do not do: "TheBillRoom" app does not collect data from TikTok users who view or interact with our videos. We do not access followers' profile information, read comments programmatically, or engage in any form of user tracking through TikTok's API.

Our use of TikTok's API is governed by TikTok's Privacy Policy and TikTok's Terms of Service. If you have questions about TikTok's data practices, please refer to TikTok's own privacy documentation.

Data Sources

The legislative data, campaign finance data, and lobbying disclosures displayed on this site are sourced from public government APIs:

  • GovTrack.us — Federal bill metadata and status
  • Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Bill subjects and cosponsors
  • Federal Election Commission (FEC) — Campaign contribution data
  • Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) — Lobbying filings
  • LegiScan — State legislative bill data and legislator rosters

AI-generated summaries and conflict analysis are produced using OpenAI's GPT-4o model. These are clearly labeled on each bill page and should not be treated as authoritative legal analysis.

Accuracy & Disclaimer

TheBillRoom.org strives to provide accurate, up-to-date information about U.S. Congressional and state legislation. However, we make no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content on this site, including AI-generated summaries, conflict-of-interest analysis, campaign finance data, or lobbying disclosures.

The information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. AI-generated content may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information. Users should always consult official sources — including Congress.gov, the FEC, and official bill text — for authoritative information.

TheBillRoom.org, its operators, and contributors shall not be held liable for any damages, losses, or consequences arising from the use of or reliance on information presented on this site.

If you believe any information on this site is inaccurate or misleading, please contact us and we will review and correct it as soon as possible.

Children's Privacy

TheBillRoom.org is a general-audience civic information resource. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share any user data with third parties. We do not run advertisements.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us here.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as the site evolves. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.