Bill > S986

This bill, titled the "Free Flow of Information Act," aims to protect journalists and news media from being compelled to disclose their sources or unpublished information. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "covered persons" as employees, agents, or independent contractors of news media who regularly engage in news gathering, and defining "news media" broadly to include various types of news outlets and entities. 2. Prohibiting state entities from compelling covered persons to disclose their sources or unpublished information, except in cases where the disclosure is critical and necessary to prevent imminent harm to public safety, and the harm outweighs the public interest in protecting the free flow of information. 3. Allowing a court to compel disclosure of unpublished information if it is critical and necessary to a significant legal issue, cannot be reasonably obtained by other means, and there is an overriding public interest in the disclosure. 4. Providing that the publication or dissemination of a source or information by the news media does not constitute a waiver of the protection from compelled disclosure. The overall intent of the bill is to safeguard the confidentiality of journalists' sources and unpublished information, thereby promoting the free flow of information and the public's access to news and events of public concern.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S986