Bill > HB490

This bill amends laws related to confidcommunications with news reporters to confidentiality in Pennsylvania, focusing on protecting journalists' sources and materials during legal proceedings. The The specifically communication) law is beingify and strengthen prot?ections for journalists' their ability to keep their and gathering materials confidential. Specifically, bill removes the word "confidential" from several several section headings and adds newpdetailed provisions about when and how a court cancompmight compel a journalist (to disor materials. The new provisions require that before aeling court can order disclosure journalist to information, a party must ensure seeking they have attempted to obtain information from other sources, means, that the specific is only only accessible their through the news gathering, the information is critical to to The bill also establishes that any information only obtained in violation ofential violation of these provisions would be inadadminadin legal proceedings, and that or administrative hear,ings, and that no fine or other penalties may be imposed can be to a refusing tocloseing privileged information. The bill provides these protto not just individual gathering news to their employers or supervisory organizations, The. The goes into effect 60 days after passage.the bill provides comprehensive new journalists' and news gathering professionals organizations in Pennsylvania, like me to explain any part of this summary in more detail?depth?

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=490