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HR 5546 116th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Correctional facilities and imprisonment Criminal justice information and records Detention of persons Evidence and witnesses Lawyers and legal services

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

Introduced: January 7, 2020 Introduced by: Jeffries, Hakeem S. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 22, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 21, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4577)
Sep 21, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 21, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5546.
Sep 21, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4576-4579)
Sep 21, 2020
Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Sep 21, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 16, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 407.
Sep 16, 2020
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-507.
Feb 12, 2020
Ordered to be Reported.
Feb 12, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 11, 2020
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
Jan 28, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jan 7, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from monitoring the contents of a privileged electronic communication between an incarcerated person and his or her legal representative.

What's happening now September 22, 2020

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6800 Related bill The Heroes Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 20
All 20 Democratic 7 Republican 6
Blumenauer, Earl
· May 15, 2020
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 10, 2020
Cicilline, David
· Feb 10, 2020
 D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Feb 10, 2020
 R
Johnson, Dusty
South Dakota · Feb 10, 2020
Richmond, Cedric
· Feb 10, 2020
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 5, 2020
 R
Crenshaw, Dan
Texas · Feb 3, 2020
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Feb 3, 2020
Armstrong, Kelly
· Jan 30, 2020
 D
Neguse, Joe
Colorado · Jan 30, 2020
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Jan 28, 2020
 R
Cline, Ben
Virginia · Jan 24, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jan 21, 2020
 R
Wagner, Ann
Missouri · Jan 21, 2020
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Jan 10, 2020
Taylor, Van
· Jan 10, 2020
SENSENBRENNER, F.
· Jan 9, 2020
Collins, Doug
· Jan 7, 2020
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jan 7, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/
MLA
"H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5546, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/)
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