Bill > H1533

This bill, titled the "Free Flow of Information Act," aims to protect members of the news media and those working with them from being forced to reveal certain information. It defines "covered person" as anyone working for a news organization, including employees, agents, and independent contractors, who gathers news. "News or information" is broadly defined to include any form of communication about events or matters. "News media" encompasses a wide range of entities, from traditional newspapers and broadcasters to online news outlets and student press, as long as they regularly gather and disseminate news to the public. The bill's core provision prevents government entities from compelling a covered person to disclose the source of their news or information, or any details that could identify that source, even if confidentiality was promised. It also protects unpublished news materials like notes, outtakes, and raw footage that haven't been shared with the public. This protection extends to supervisors and others assisting the covered person, and any information obtained in violation of this act would be inadmissible in legal proceedings. However, there are exceptions: disclosure of a source's identity might be compelled if it's necessary to prevent imminent and actual harm to public security from terrorism, and this harm clearly outweighs the public interest in protecting free information flow. Additionally, a court can compel disclosure of unpublished news materials if the information is critical to a significant legal issue, cannot be obtained otherwise, and there's an overriding public interest, but this exception does not apply to revealing the source of information. Finally, the act clarifies that publishing or disseminating a source or some of the information does not automatically waive the protection against compelled disclosure.