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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1962 (113th)

Free Flow of Information Act of 2013

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

14 May 2013

Last action

14 June 2013 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Sponsors

Ted Poe, Rep. Radel, Trey [R-FL-19], JOHN CONYERS, Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Cedric Richmond, Bill Pascrell, Sheila Jackson Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Theodore Deutch, Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Hakeem Jeffries, Blake Farenthold, Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], JAMES LANGEVIN, Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Enyart, William L. [D-IL-12], Luke Messer, Kenny Marchant, Anna Eshoo, Betty McCollum, Jim Jordan, RICHARD NOLAN, James Himes, John Yarmuth, Cheri Bustos, Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Kay Granger, STEVE CHABOT, Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], CAROLYN MALONEY, Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Todd Rokita, Sean Duffy, Trent Franks, Karen Bass, Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19], Matt Cartwright, Raul Labrador, Rodney Davis, Steve Daines, Billy Long

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

12 August 2025

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Free Flow of Information Act of 2013 - Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency of the federal government), in any matter arising under federal law, from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document related to information obtained or created as part of engaging in journalism unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including determinations that: (1) alternative sources have been exhausted; (2) the testimony or document sought is critical to the investigation, prosecution, or defense of a crime or the successful completion of a noncriminal matter; (3) disclosure of an information source's identity is necessary to prevent an act of terrorism, harm to national security, imminent death, significant bodily harm or to identify a person who has disclosed a trade secret, individually identifiable health information, or certain nonpublic personal information; and (4) the public interest in compelling disclosure of the information or document involved outweighs the public interest in gathering or disseminating news or information. Defines "covered person" as a person who, for financial gain or livelihood, is engaged in journalism, including a supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such a person. Excludes from that definition foreign powers and their agents and certain designated foreign terrorist organizations. Defines "journalism" as the gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored. Prohibits this Act from being construed as applying to civil defamation, slander, or libel claims or defenses under state law. Applies this Act to communications service providers with regard to testimony or any record, information, or other communication that relates to a business transaction between such providers and covered persons. Sets forth notice requirements. Permits a court to delay notice to a covered person upon determining that such notice would pose a substantial threat to the integrity of a criminal investigation.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 14 May 2013

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 14 May 2013

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 14 May 2013

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 14 June 2013

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Sponsors

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Related records

Sources

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