A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Journalist Protection Act proposes to amend title 18 of the United States Code to create penalties for assaulting journalists. It defines journalists as individuals working for entities that disseminate news or information to the public. The bill establishes criminal penalties for those who intentionally cause bodily injury or serious bodily injury to a journalist. These acts must be committed with knowledge that the person is a journalist and occur during newsgathering or with the intent to impede it. Penalties include fines and imprisonment for up to 3 or 6 years depending on the severity of the injury.
Yes
- Scored +7
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
Protects journalists' ability to gather news without fear of physical assault.
- Scored +7
Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life?
Protects the physical safety of journalists, which is essential for the exercise of free press and speech.
- Scored +3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Creates new federal criminal penalties for assault against journalists.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Protection for Journalists: Section 2(b), (c), and (d) provide legal penalties for those who commit assault against journalists, which may deter violence against people gathering news for the public.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Criminal Penalties: Section 2(b) establishes that individuals who commit the prohibited acts can be fined or imprisoned for up to 3 years for causing bodily injury or up to 6 years for causing serious bodily injury.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — Protects journalists' ability to gather news without fear of physical assault. Does this give the federal government more power? — Creates new federal criminal penalties for assault against journalists.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — Protects the physical safety of journalists, which is essential for the exercise of free press and speech.
- 5/5/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia