H.R. 3203 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, May 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCreates new criminal offenses for harming journalists
This bill makes it a federal crime to intentionally injure a journalist or try to do so. It sets up specific legal penalties for these acts of violence against people doing journalism work.
How it affects you
If you're a journalist, this law would offer federal legal protection if someone harms you because of your work. For everyone else, it signals that attacks on journalists carry serious criminal consequences at the federal level.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 5, 2025)
Journalist Protection Act
This bill establishes new criminal offenses for intentional acts (or attempts to commit acts) that cause bodily injury to a journalist.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3203
A BILL
Journalist Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14) · Introduced May 5, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 5, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.”