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S 593 101th Congress Senate Commerce Antitrust law Antitrust policy Boycott Drug abuse Pornography Television industry Television programs Violence in television

Television Violence Act

Introduced: March 15, 1989 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 30 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 7, 1990
See also S. 2648.
Nov 21, 1989
Mr. Kastenmeier, by unanimous consent, withdrew his previous motion to disagree to the Senate amendment and to request a conference. By unanimous consent, the bill was returned to the Speaker's table.
Nov 21, 1989
AUTHORITY TO APPOINT CONFEREES - By unamimous consent, the Speaker reserved the right to appoint conferees.
Nov 21, 1989
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 21, 1989
Mr. Kastenmeier asked unanimous consent to disagree to the Senate amendment and to request a conference. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 19, 1989
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 18, 1989
Senate concurred in the House amendment with an amendment (SP1176) by Voice Vote.
Nov 18, 1989
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendment with an amendment (SP1176) by Voice Vote.
Nov 18, 1989
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Aug 3, 1989
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Aug 1, 1989
A similar measure H.R. 1391 was laid on the table without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
On passage Passed without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 1391. Agreed to without objection.
Aug 1, 1989
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Aug 1, 1989
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Jun 7, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic and Commercial Law.
Jun 5, 1989
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 5, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 5, 1989
Received in the House.
May 31, 1989
Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
May 31, 1989
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
May 31, 1989
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
May 12, 1989
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 55.
May 12, 1989
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with amendments. Without written report.
Apr 13, 1989
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Mar 15, 1989
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mar 15, 1989
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 1,176 — In the nature of a substitute. Agreed to Nov 18, 1989
SAMDT 106 — To encourage the promulgation of guidelines by persons in the television industry regarding sexually explicit… Agreed to May 31, 1989
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Television Violence and Indecent Material Act - Exempts from the antitrust laws any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement by or among persons in the television industry for developing and disseminating voluntary guidelines designed to alleviate the negative impact of violence, illegal drug use, and sexually explicit material in telecast material, provided the joint action does not result in a boycott of any person. Applies such exemption to only those joint activities engaged in within 37 months after enactment of this Act.

Defines "person in the television industry" to include any entity which produces programming for television distribution.

What's happening now November 7, 1990

See also S. 2648.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 2648 Related document Judicial Improvements Act of 1990
  • HR 1391 Procedurally related Television Violence Act of 1989
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Mar 15, 1989
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 593: Television Violence and Indecent Material Act. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-593/
MLA
"S. 593: Television Violence and Indecent Material Act." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-593/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 593, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-593/.
Markdown link
[S. 593: Television Violence and Indecent Material Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-593/)
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