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H.R. 581 118th Congress House

DOCS Act

Official title: To require individuals who formerly held an elected Federal office to certify after leaving office that they do not have in their possession any classified materials, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 26, 2023 Introduced by: Ritchie Torres Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Civil actions and liabilityFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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 27, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.
Jan 26, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 26, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 27, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Defending Our Classified Secrets Act or the DOCS Act

This bill addresses the possession of classified materials by former elected federal officials.

Specifically, the bill requires an individual who formerly held an elected federal office to certify to the National Archives and Records Administration after leaving office that he or she does not possess any classified materials.

The bill establishes a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for an individual who does not submit the required certification or who submits a certification that contains false information.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence must ensure that there is established a mandatory procedure under which any classified material removed from a sensitive compartmented information facility shall be documented and tracked.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 581: DOCS Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-581/
MLA
"H.R. 581: DOCS Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-581/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 581, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-581/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 581: DOCS Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-581/)
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