Comment Integrity and Management Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-7528
Sponsor: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2024-03-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Internet, web applications, social media
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2024-03-05
text: 

Comment Integrity and Management Act of 2024

This bill establishes requirements with respect to the submission of mass comments and computer-generated comments in the federal rulemaking process.

Specifically, the bill requires federal agencies to verify, to the greatest extent possible at the time a public comment is submitted, whether the comment has been submitted by a human being.

An agency also must identify comments that are mass comments and may publish on the docket only a single representative copy of such comments or a single copy of one variation of mass comments that use standardized but not identical language. If the agency publishes only a single copy of a mass comment, the agency also must make available the number of mass comments submitted that were identical or substantially identical to the representative copy or variation that the agency published.

Additionally, each agency must establish a policy with respect to the posting and consideration of computer-generated comments and mass-comments during the agency's rulemaking process.

The Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance for implementing the requirements of this bill, and the Government Accountability Office must report on the identification and effect of computer-generated comments in the rulemaking process.

action_date: 2024-05-06
text: 

Comment Integrity and Management Act of 2024

This bill establishes requirements with respect to the submission of mass comments and computer-generated comments in the federal rulemaking process.

Specifically, the bill requires federal agencies to verify, to the greatest extent possible at the time a public comment is submitted, whether the comment has been submitted by a human being.

An agency also must determine whether comments are mass comments and may publish on the docket only a single representative copy of such comments or a single copy of one variation of mass comments that use standardized but not identical language. If the agency publishes only a single copy of a mass comment, the agency also must indicate the number of mass comments submitted that were identical or substantively identical to the representative copy or variation that the agency published.

Additionally, each agency must establish a policy with respect to the posting and consideration of computer-generated comments and mass-comments during the agency's rulemaking process.

The Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance for implementing the requirements of this bill, and the Government Accountability Office must report on the identification and effect of computer-generated comments in the rulemaking process. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 712.
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-306.
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-306.
action_date: 2024-11-20
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2024-05-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2844-2845)
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2844-2845)
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7528.
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2844-2846)
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Mr. LaTurner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 9.
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-03-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
action_date: 2024-03-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2024-03-05
text: Introduced in House