Journalists covering protests or civil unrest would receive stronger federal protections under this bill. It would make it a federal crime to intentionally assault, kidnap, or kill a journalist who is gathering news at a public demonstration, carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison (or life if the journalist is killed). The bill also creates a private right of action, allowing journalists to sue for damages if their rights are violated.
Congressional Summary
Journalist Protection Act This bill establishes new criminal offenses for intentional acts (or attempts to commit acts) that cause bodily injury to a journalist.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-05-05
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.