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HR 546 106th Congress House

Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1999

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect the sanctity of religious communications.

Introduced: February 3, 1999 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Church and stateCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil actions and liabilityConfidential communications
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
EavesdroppingElectronic surveillanceFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsLawMagnetic tapesMisconduct in officePublic recordsReligionReligious libertyRight of privacyScience, Technology, CommunicationsSentences (Criminal procedure)Sound recording and reproducing
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 25, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Feb 3, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 3, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 25, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose penalties upon persons who, under color of governmental authority, surreptitiously listen to or record any communication that is privileged because of its religious character.

Authorizes any person aggrieved by a violation consisting of the recording of a communication to obtain, in a civil action, the prompt destruction of that recording and any copies or transcripts made from such recording.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Mar 23, 1999
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 546: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1999. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-546/
MLA
"H.R. 546: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1999." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-546/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 546, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-546/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 546: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1999](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-546/)
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