Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 
2006 (34 U.S.C. 20911(7)). 
SEC. 3. LIMITS ON COMPELLED DISCLOSURE FROM COV-
ERED JOURNALISTS. 
In any matter arising under Federal law, a Federal 
entity may not compel a covered journalist to disclose pro-
tected information, unless a court in the judicial district 
in which the subpoena or other compulsory process is, or 
will be, issued determines by a preponderance of the evi-
dence, after providing notice and an opportunity to be 
heard to the covered journalist, that— 
(1) disclosure of the protected information is 
necessary to prevent, or to identify any perpetrator 
of, an act of terrorism against the United States; or 
(2) disclosure of the protected information is 
necessary to prevent a threat of imminent violence, 
significant bodily harm, or death, including specified 
offenses against a minor. 
SEC. 4. LIMITS ON COMPELLED DISCLOSURE FROM COV-
ERED SERVICE PROVIDERS. 
(a) CONDITIONS FOR COMPELLED DISCLOSURE.—In 
any matter arising under Federal law, a Federal entity 
may not compel a covered service provider to provide testi-
mony or any document consisting of any record, informa-
tion, or other communications stored by a covered provider
on behalf of a covered journalist, including testimony or 
any document relating to a personal account of a covered 
journalist or a personal technology device of a covered 
journalist, unless a court in the judicial district in which 
the subpoena or other compulsory process is, or will be, 
issued determines by a preponderance of the evidence that 
there is a reasonable threat of imminent violence unless 
the testimony or document is provided, and issues an 
order authorizing the Federal entity to compel the disclo-
sure of the testimony or document. 
(b) NOTICE TO COURT.—A Federal entity seeking to 
compel the provision of testimony or any document de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall inform the court that the 
testimony or document relates to a covered journalist. 
(c) NOTICE TO COVERED JOURNALIST AND OPPOR-
TUNITY TO BE HEARD.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A court may authorize a 
Federal entity to compel the provision of testimony 
or a document under this section only after the Fed-
eral entity seeking the testimony or document pro-
vides the covered journalist on behalf of whom the 
testimony or document is stored pursuant to sub-
section (a)— 
(A) notice of the subpoena or other com-
pulsory request for such testimony or document
from the covered service provider not later than 
the time at which such subpoena or request is 
issued to the covered service provider; and 
(B) an opportunity to be heard before the 
court before the time at which the provision of 
the testimony or document is compelled. 
(2) EXCEPTION TO NOTICE REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Notice and an oppor-
tunity to be heard under paragraph (1) may be 
delayed for not more than 45 days if the court 
involved determines there is clear and con-
vincing evidence that such notice would pose a 
clear and substantial threat to the integrity of 
a criminal investigation, or would present an 
imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm, 
including specified offenses against a minor. 
(B) EXTENSIONS.—The 45-day period de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) may be extended 
by the court for additional periods of not more 
than 45 days if the court involved makes a new 
and independent determination that there is 
clear and convincing evidence that providing no-
tice to the covered journalist would pose a clear 
and substantial threat to the integrity of a 
criminal investigation, or would present an im-
minent risk of death or serious bodily harm, in-
cluding specified offenses against a minor, 
under current circumstances. 
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON CONTENT OF INFORMATION. 
The content of any testimony, document, or protected 
information that is compelled under sections 3 or 4 shall— 
(1) not be overbroad, unreasonable, or oppres-
sive, and, as appropriate, be limited to the purpose 
of verifying published information or describing any 
surrounding circumstances relevant to the accuracy 
of such published information; and 
(2) be narrowly tailored in subject matter and 
period of time covered so as to avoid compelling the 
production of peripheral, nonessential, or speculative 
information. 
SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— 
(1) apply to civil defamation, slander, or libel 
claims or defenses under State law, regardless of 
whether or not such claims or defenses, respectively, 
are raised in a State or Federal court; or 
(2) prevent the Federal Government from pur-
suing an investigation of a covered journalist or or-
ganization that is— 
(A) suspected of committing a crime;
(B) a witness to a crime unrelated to en-
gaging in journalism; 
(C) suspected of being an agent of a for-
eign power, as defined in section 101 of the 
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 
(50 U.S.C. 1801); 
(D) an individual or organization des-
ignated under Executive Order No. 13224 (50 
U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
and prohibiting transactions with persons who 
commit, threaten to commit, or support ter-
rorism); 
(E) a specially designated terrorist, as that 
term is defined in section 595.311 of title 31, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
thereto); or 
(F) a terrorist organization, as that term 
is defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi)(II) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(a)(3)(B)(vi)(II)). 
Passed the House of Representatives January 18, 
2024. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4250 
AN ACT 
To maintain the free flow of information to the 
public by establishing appropriate limits on the 
federally compelled disclosure of information ob-
tained as part of engaging in journalism, and for 
other purposes.