The first section of the Act provides its short title, which is the "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act".

The section details reforms to the FBI's query procedures under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including limitations on personnel who can authorize queries involving U.S. persons, mandatory audits, restrictions on political appointees in the approval process, and requirements for additional training and prior approval for sensitive queries. It also includes provisions for notifying Congress about certain queries and circumstances requiring congressional consent.

The section limits the FBI's ability to search information gathered under section 702 by stopping them from looking for evidence of crimes unrelated to national security and outlining when exceptions are allowed. Furthermore, it restricts the FBI from adding certain information to its databases unless connected to an active national security investigation, with exceptions made for urgent situations or when helping other agencies.

Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the intelligence community is prohibited from targeting U.S. persons for foreign intelligence collection without a specific court order. Additionally, the Department of Justice is required to conduct annual reviews and audits to ensure that no unauthorized targeting of U.S. persons occurs, with reports submitted to various government bodies.

The bill proposes reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, including requiring the same judge to handle extensions of surveillance orders and allowing amici curiae to assist the court. It also provides for the designation of attorneys to review applications targeting U.S. persons and ensures that certain members of Congress and their staff can attend court proceedings.

The bill amends several sections of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to strengthen requirements for applications, including mandates for sworn statements, prohibitions on using politically sourced or press-derived information without clear identification and corroboration, and providing detailed justifications in specific cases involving U.S. persons. It also modifies how long certain surveillance orders can last against non-U.S. persons, extending them from 120 days to one year.

The section amends part of a law to add a requirement that the declassification review of certain documents must be completed as soon as possible, but no later than 180 days after the review begins.

The section outlines requirements for transcribing hearings and storing related records with their corresponding applications or orders. It also mandates notifying Congress about certain transcripts related to proceedings before intelligence courts, and providing access to declassified documents.

The section mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Justice must deliver a report to specific congressional committees within 545 days, evaluating the FBI's compliance with rules for searching data under section 702. The report must cover compliance, reforms, and suggestions for improvement regarding these querying procedures, particularly those involving U.S. person terms, and be submitted in an unclassified format with an optional classified annex.

This section requires applicants for certain surveillance applications to certify that they have provided the Attorney General all information that might question the accuracy or fairness of their application and mandates the disclosure of any potentially exculpatory information. The changes apply to applications made 120 days after the enactment of the Act, and procedures ensuring the accuracy of applications targeting U.S. persons must be established within 180 days.

The bill requires the FBI Director to submit annual and quarterly reports to Congress detailing the number of times the FBI queries certain information on U.S. persons, especially under emergency circumstances or for criminal investigations. Starting January 1, 2025, these reports will be reviewed for declassification and shared publicly every April.

The bill requires that the FBI Director report every year to certain Congressional committees about actions taken for improper information searches, and sets up accountability measures for FBI leaders to ensure they follow procedures, with annual evaluations and briefings to Congress on compliance and any disciplinary actions.

The section outlines changes to the penalties under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It specifies that people who knowingly and willfully share unauthorized or classified information regarding electronic surveillance or certain communications involving U.S. persons can face increased fines and imprisonment terms up to 10 years. It also mentions a sentencing enhancement for making false statements in proceedings related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

A person can be punished under this section if they knowingly share or misuse classified information, especially if it harms the United States or benefits a foreign government. Such actions can result in a fine, a prison sentence of up to 8 years, or both, especially if the person was a government employee at the time.

The section outlines changes to the contempt powers of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and its review court (FISC-R) by allowing them to be treated like any other United States district court for contempt-related crimes. It also requires annual reporting on how often these courts use their authority and includes details of each instance.

This section amends penalties for civil violations under section 110, increasing damages to at least $10,000 for U.S. persons or $1,000 for others, depending on the circumstances. It also requires agency heads to report violations to Congress and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which will keep a list of violators.

If a court determines that someone has broken the law in a civil case under section 110, the agency they work for must report to Congress about the actions taken against them. Additionally, the agency must give the person's name to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which will keep a list of such individuals.

The section requires the FBI Director to establish clear rules with consequences for improper searches of U.S. persons' data, with zero tolerance for intentional misconduct and increasing penalties for mistakes. It also mandates reporting these rules to Congress within 90 days and includes annual reports on any disciplinary actions for three years, involving both intelligence and judiciary committees.

The section explains that if a United States Government officer or employee intentionally behaves improperly during proceedings at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court or its Court of Review, they could face severe consequences such as suspension without pay or even losing their job.

The text describes the creation of a commission, called the "FISA Reform Commission," which will review and suggest updates to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The commission will include members from various government departments and Congress, and will have powers to hold hearings and require information from federal agencies, aiming to ensure both effective intelligence operations and the protection of privacy and civil liberties. The commission will submit a final report with its findings and recommendations within five years.

The section extends certain authorities related to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 by pushing the expiration date to two years after the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act is enacted, instead of April 19, 2024. It also mentions the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act alongside the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 in certain parts of the law.

The section explains that when this Act changes or removes parts of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, it will be automatically understood as an amendment to that Act. Additionally, any changes made by this Act, such as adding, removing, or altering sections, will also update the table of contents of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to reflect these changes.

The section mandates that the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence must obtain new approvals for activities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. This must happen within 90 days after the law is enacted, specifically for certain activities planned between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2024.

The section repeals the authority to collect "abouts" communications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by removing specific provisions from the 1978 Act and the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017. It involves making changes to certain sections and subsections of these laws to eliminate the allowed exceptions for "abouts" collection.

The section updates the definition of foreign intelligence to include activities related to the international production, distribution, or funding of illegal synthetic drugs, opioids, cocaine, and other drugs that contribute to overdose deaths, as well as their precursors.

The amendment to section 702 requires that any procedures used by government agencies for vetting non-U.S. persons traveling to the United States be designed to ensure that these individuals can be checked without using search terms that apply to U.S. citizens. The Attorney General must work with the Director of National Intelligence to make sure this vetting process is effective.

The bill section makes changes to the definitions related to electronic communication service providers, including adding new categories of providers who have access to communication equipment, but specifically excludes places like hotels, homes, community facilities, and restaurants. It also updates references to certain subcategories and includes "custodian" as a category of employee.