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Panel agrees to print bill establishing reporter-source protections; lawmakers flag questions about who qualifies as a journalist
Summary
Representatives introduced RS 32,170 to extend statutory source-protection to those engaged in journalistic activities; sponsors and members said the proposal mirrors language used in other states but committee members asked for hearings to clarify who qualifies as a journalist and how the law would interact with defamation suits and subpoenas.
Representative Marco Erickson introduced RS 32,170, a draft statute intended to strengthen legal protections for journalists who promise confidentiality to sources. Erickson said the text is modeled on language adopted in other states and aims to protect small news outlets and independent journalists who may lack legal resources when subpoenaed.
Erickson described the intent as narrow, with exceptions for national-security matters and imminent physical harm.…
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