Legis Daily

Pro Codes Act

USA118th CongressHR-1631| House 
| Updated: 7/22/2024
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (19)
Donald Norcross (Democratic)Barry Moore (Republican)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Lance Gooden (Republican)Dina Titus (Democratic)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Cliff Bentz (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Dan Bishop (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Kevin Kiley (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Yadira Caraveo (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act or the Pro Codes Act This bill addresses copyright protections for privately-developed technical standards that are incorporated into a law or regulation (e.g., a state law that requires buildings to comply with the electrical standards developed by a private standards development organization). Currently, there is not a consensus as to whether a technical standard that has been incorporated by reference into a law retains copyright protection. (A technical standard created by a private organization is typically eligible for copyright protection, but some courts have ruled that standards incorporated into law lose their copyright protections for various reasons. For example, some courts have held that incorporated standards effectively became law and therefore entered the public domain.) Under this bill, a technical standard shall retain its copyright protection even if it has been incorporated by reference into a law or regulation, if the applicable standards development organization makes the standard available on a free publicly accessible online source and in a format that facilitates the location of specific content. If a party asserts that an incorporated technical standard has lost its copyright protection because it has not been made available for free online, the party making that assertion shall bear the burden of proof. The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Copyright Office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO must conduct several studies and report on the findings, including the potential impacts of the bill on consumers and historically disadvantaged communities.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6769
Pro Codes Act
Mar 16, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-835
Introduced in Senate
Mar 17, 2023
Introduced in House
Mar 17, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 19, 2023
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 19, 2023
the motion to favorably report was withdrawn by unanimous consent
Apr 16, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 17, 2024
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 4.
Apr 17, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 22, 2024
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 501.
Jul 22, 2024
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.
Jul 22, 2024
Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4658-4665; text: CR H4658-4660)
Jul 22, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1631.
Jul 22, 2024
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4708)
Jul 22, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
View Vote
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6769
    Pro Codes Act


  • March 16, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-835
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 17, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • March 17, 2023
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • July 19, 2023
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 19, 2023
    the motion to favorably report was withdrawn by unanimous consent


  • April 16, 2024
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 17, 2024
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 4.


  • April 17, 2024
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 22, 2024
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 501.


  • July 22, 2024
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.


  • July 22, 2024
    Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4658-4665; text: CR H4658-4660)


  • July 22, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1631.


  • July 22, 2024
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4708)


  • July 22, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
    View Vote

Commerce

Related Bills

  • S 118-835: Pro Codes Act
Digital mediaIntellectual propertyUser charges and feesWages and earnings

Pro Codes Act

USA118th CongressHR-1631| House 
| Updated: 7/22/2024
Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act or the Pro Codes Act This bill addresses copyright protections for privately-developed technical standards that are incorporated into a law or regulation (e.g., a state law that requires buildings to comply with the electrical standards developed by a private standards development organization). Currently, there is not a consensus as to whether a technical standard that has been incorporated by reference into a law retains copyright protection. (A technical standard created by a private organization is typically eligible for copyright protection, but some courts have ruled that standards incorporated into law lose their copyright protections for various reasons. For example, some courts have held that incorporated standards effectively became law and therefore entered the public domain.) Under this bill, a technical standard shall retain its copyright protection even if it has been incorporated by reference into a law or regulation, if the applicable standards development organization makes the standard available on a free publicly accessible online source and in a format that facilitates the location of specific content. If a party asserts that an incorporated technical standard has lost its copyright protection because it has not been made available for free online, the party making that assertion shall bear the burden of proof. The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Copyright Office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO must conduct several studies and report on the findings, including the potential impacts of the bill on consumers and historically disadvantaged communities.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6769
Pro Codes Act
Mar 16, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-835
Introduced in Senate
Mar 17, 2023
Introduced in House
Mar 17, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 19, 2023
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 19, 2023
the motion to favorably report was withdrawn by unanimous consent
Apr 16, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 17, 2024
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 4.
Apr 17, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 22, 2024
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 501.
Jul 22, 2024
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.
Jul 22, 2024
Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4658-4665; text: CR H4658-4660)
Jul 22, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1631.
Jul 22, 2024
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4708)
Jul 22, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
View Vote
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6769
    Pro Codes Act


  • March 16, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-835
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 17, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • March 17, 2023
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • July 19, 2023
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 19, 2023
    the motion to favorably report was withdrawn by unanimous consent


  • April 16, 2024
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 17, 2024
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 4.


  • April 17, 2024
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 22, 2024
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 501.


  • July 22, 2024
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.


  • July 22, 2024
    Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4658-4665; text: CR H4658-4660)


  • July 22, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1631.


  • July 22, 2024
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4708)


  • July 22, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
    View Vote
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (19)
Donald Norcross (Democratic)Barry Moore (Republican)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Lance Gooden (Republican)Dina Titus (Democratic)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Cliff Bentz (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Dan Bishop (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Kevin Kiley (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Yadira Caraveo (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Commerce

Related Bills

  • S 118-835: Pro Codes Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Digital mediaIntellectual propertyUser charges and feesWages and earnings