A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the 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 "Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act of 2026" aims to amend title 17 of the United States Code regarding works incorporated by reference into law. This bill addresses technical and voluntary consensus standards used by various levels of government. It seeks to balance the protection of copyrights for standards development organizations with the public's interest in accessing these standards. Under the proposed changes, a standard retains its copyright protection if the organization makes it available online at no monetary cost. The bill also establishes specific definitions for terms like "publicly accessible online" and "incorporated by reference."
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill enhances public access to the technical standards that underpin government laws and regulations.
- Scored +5
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill mandates that digital standards-access comply with accessibility requirements for people with disabilities.
- Scored +5
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill requires that online standards be displayed on websites that conform to section 508 accessibility requirements.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Accessibility to Standards: The bill requires that standards incorporated by reference be made "publicly accessible online" at no monetary cost (Section 3(b)). This allows people to read the current, accurate version of standards used in laws and regulations (Section 2(11)).
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Improved Searchability: The mandate requires that the online version of a standard includes a "searchable table of contents and index, or equivalent aids" (Section 3(b)). This helps people facilitate the location of specific content within a standard (Section 3(a)(3)(A)).
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Protection of Personal Information: For online access that requires an account or agreement to terms, the bill specifies that "no personally identifiable information collected pursuant to such a requirement is used without the affirmative and express consent of the user" (Section 3(a)(3)(B)(ii)).
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Ensuring Digital Accessibility: The requirement that online material be displayed on a website that "conforms with the accessibility requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973" ensures that the information is accessible to a broader range of people (Section 3(a)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Burden of Proof on the Accuser: In legal proceedings where a party claims a standards development organization has failed to comply with the requirements to retain copyright protection, "the burden of proof shall be on the party making that assertion" (Section 3(c)).
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill mandates that digital standards-access comply with accessibility requirements for people with disabilities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill ensures that essential technical standards used in regulation are available to the public at no monetary cost.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill enhances public access to the technical standards that underpin government laws and regulations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill requires that online standards be displayed on websites that conform to section 508 accessibility requirements.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill protects personal information by requiring express consent before using data collected during website access.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill increases transparency by requiring that technical standards used in laws be easily accessible to the public at no cost.
- 3/19/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina