I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4776 
To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction 
of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the 
content of speech occurring during sessions of State legislative bodies, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2006 
Mr. SODREL (for himself, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BUYER, Mr. 
HOSTETTLER, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. PENCE, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. BARRETT 
of South Carolina, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. GOODE, Mr. WELDON of Flor-
ida, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. ISSA, Mr. JINDAL, 
Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. SHADEGG, Mrs. 
MUSGRAVE, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POE, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. HENSARLING, 
Ms. FOXX, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. COLE of Oklahoma, Mr. 
HAYWORTH, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mrs. DRAKE, Mr. 
LEWIS of Kentucky, and Mr. PAUL) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to 
the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and 
controversies involving the content of speech occurring 
during sessions of State legislative bodies, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON JURISDICTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 99 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1632. Limitation on jurisdiction 
‘‘No court created by Act of Congress shall have any 
jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court shall have no appel-
late jurisdiction, to hear or decide any question pertaining 
to the interpretation or the validity, under the Constitu-
tion, of the content of speech of any member of a State 
legislative body or any individual invited by a State legisla-
tive body to speak before that body, when such speech oc-
curs during the legislative session of that body.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 99 of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item: 
‘‘1632. Limitation on jurisdiction.’’. 
SEC. 2. QUALIFIED IMMUNITY. 
Any person who is a member of a State legislative 
body, or who is invited by a State legislative body to speak 
before that body, other than as a witness, shall be immune 
from suit in any Federal court, and shall not be held liable 
under any law of the United States, on account of the 
content of speech occurring during the legislative session 
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of that body, unless such speech constitutes treason, 
breach of peace, or an admission of guilt of a crime. 
SEC. 3. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS. 
No Federal funds shall be used for the purpose of 
enforcing any court order relating to the content of speech 
occurring during the legislative session of a State legisla-
tive body, unless such speech constitutes treason, breach 
of peace, or an admission of guilt of a crime. 
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION OF FINES. 
No Federal court shall impose a fine on any State, 
State legislative body, member of a State legislative body, 
or individual invited by a State legislative body to speak 
before that body, other than as a witness, on account of 
the content of speech occurring during the legislative ses-
sion of that body, unless such speech constitutes treason, 
breach of peace, or an admission of guilt of a crime. 
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION. 
No provision of this Act, including any amendment 
made by this Act, shall be construed— 
(1) to supersede any State law or any rule of 
a State legislative body; or 
(2) to limit the protections provided by any 
other provision of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act (including any amend-
ment made by this Act), or any application thereof, is 
found unconstitutional, that finding shall not affect any 
provision or application of the Act not so adjudicated. 
Æ 
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