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S 1135 105th Congress Senate

Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997

Official title: A bill to provide certain immunities from civil liability for trade and professional associations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 31, 1997 Introduced by: McConnell, Mitch Republican · Kentucky See on congress.gov
Law Appellate procedureCommerceConfidential communicationsDefective products
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Discovery (Law)Evidence (Law)Federal preemptionFraudGovernment Operations and PoliticsLabor and EmploymentLegal feesLiability (Law)Libel and slanderNegligencePretrial procedureProfessional associationsQuality of productsState courtsState laws
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 13, 1998
Referred to Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, Government.
Jul 31, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jul 31, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8598-8599)
Jul 31, 1997
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action October 13, 1998

Referred to Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, Government.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997 - Exempts a trade or professional association from civil liability relating to harm caused by the provision of specified information by the trade or professional association to a member of the trade or professional association.

Authorizes a trade or professional association to file a special motion to strike any claim in a judicial proceeding against the trade or professional association on the ground that the claim is based on an act with respect to which the association is exempt from liability under this Act.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) procedures with respect to a special motion to strike; (2) qualified exemption of such associations from third-party discovery; (3) a special motion to quash a subpoena on the grounds that the trade or professional association is exempt from any third-party discovery request; (4) procedures with respect to a special motion to quash; (5) the right of such associations to object under rule 45 of the Federal Rules of Procedure or any similar rule or procedure under applicable State law; (6) a qualified association member privilege not to disclose confidential information received from the association relating to litigation involving the quality, performance, or defect of a product; (7) election of a State to be exempt from the requirements of this Act with respect to any civil action in a State court in which all of the parties are citizens of that State; and (8) preemption of State laws.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1135: Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1135/
MLA
"S. 1135: Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1135/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1135, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1135/.
Markdown link
[S. 1135: Trade and Professional Association Free Flow of Information Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-1135/)
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