Shield Law

Wisconsin's state senate today passed, by a voice vote, shield legislation that would protect confidential sources and newsgathering materials, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The bill will now go to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature.

Kansas became the 38th state to pass a state shield law for reporters today when Gov. Mark Parkinson signed the pending legislation, The Associated Press reported.

The law will take effect upon publication in the Kansas Statute Book.

The Kansas Legislature passed a state shield law for reporters on Tuesday night that will now go to Gov. Mark Parkinson for his signature.

Both chambers of the Legislature approved the measure to provide Kansas reporters with a qualified reporter's privilege by an overwhelming margin -- the Senate voted 39-1 and the House 116-3.

The Kansas Senate has voted in favor of a state shield law that protects journalists from the forced disclosure of private newsgathering materials, The Associated Press reported.

The bill will now go to the state House for consideration. If enacted, it would protect confidential sources and unpublished notes.

The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee today agreed to send shield legislation to the state Senate floor for consideration.

The bill, SB 211, would protect journalists from having to disclose confidential sources or unpublished notes. It was originally written by state Sen. Derek Schmidt and had bipartisan sponsorship. Main features of the legislation include a test for compelling disclosure of privileged information.

Media organizations today urged an Illinois judge to block a criminal prosecutor’s subpoena for the notes and records from students in Medill's Innocence Project at Northwestern University.

The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to present the federal media shield bill to the full Senate, a new milestone this year for legislation that has been tabled, debated and amended for months in the committee.

Senate Judiciary Committee members agreed today to decide on a timeframe for considering any final amendments to the proposed federal media shield law, possibly setting time limits on discussion of the amendments.

The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted down two proposed amendments to federal shield legislation and indicated that a committee or Senate vote may occur in the near future -- even if Republican opposition prompts sponsors to bypass the committee entirely.

The Obama administration today released a letter that supports revised legislation pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee that broadly defines the definition of a journalist in a proposed federal shield law.