Pro Codes Act

House Bill

H.R. 1631

119th Congress

Pro Codes Act

Failed

Introduced:Oct 8, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Darrell Issa

Representative

Republican

CA-48

Cosponsors

19

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Commerce

Summary

The Pro Codes Act addresses the issue of copyright protections for technical standards that have been incorporated into laws or regulations. It states that these standards can retain their copyright protection if the organization that created them makes the standards available for free online. This aims to ensure public access to important standards that are required by law.

Latest Action

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).

SponsorDarrell Issa (R-CA)

Introduced10/8/2025

StatusOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 requi

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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The Pro Codes Act addresses the issue of copyright protections for technical standards that have been incorporated into laws or regulations. It states that these standards can retain their copyright protection if the organization that created them makes the standards available for free online. This aims to ensure public access to important standards that are required by law.

Bill Number: 1631
Sponsor: Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Introduced: 10/8/2025
Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 requi
Policy Area: Commerce

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Pro Codes Act
Bill Number: 1631
Sponsor: Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 requi
Introduced: 10/8/2025
Summary: The Pro Codes Act addresses the issue of copyright protections for technical standards that have been incorporated into laws or regulations. It states that these standards can retain their copyright protection if the organization that created them makes the standards available for free online. This

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Pro Codes Act addresses the issue of copyright protections for technical standards that have been incorporated into laws or regulations. It states that these standards can retain their copyright protection if the organization that created them makes the standards available for free online. This aims to ensure public access to important standards that are required by law.

Last updated: 12/29/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act or the Pro Codes Act This bill addresses copyright protections for privately-developed technical standards that are incorporated into a law or regulation (e.g., a state law that requires buildings to comply with the electrical standards developed by a private standards development organization). Currently, there is not a consensus as to whether a technical standard that has been incorporated by reference into a law retains copyright protection. (A technical standard created by a private organization is typically eligible for copyright protection, but some courts have ruled that standards incorporated into law lose their copyright protections for various reasons. For example, some courts have held that incorporated standards effectively became law and therefore entered the public domain.) Under this bill, a technical standard shall retain its copyright protection even if it has been incorporated by reference into a law or regulation, if the applicable standards development organization makes the standard available on a free publicly accessible online source. If a party asserts that an incorporated technical standard has lost its copyright protection because it has not been made available for free online, the party making that assertion shall bear the burden of proof.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Technical standards created by private organizations can retain copyright protection even if they are incorporated into laws or regulations.
Standards must be made freely available online by the standards development organization to keep their copyright protection.
The burden of proof is on the party claiming that an incorporated standard has lost its copyright protection.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would affect the public, as it would ensure greater access to important technical standards that are required by law. It would also impact standards development organizations, who would need to provide free online access to their standards to retain copyright protection. Overall, it aims to balance private intellectual property rights with public access to information needed to comply with the law.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Commerce

Related Subjects

Digital media

Intellectual property

User charges and fees

Wages and earnings

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1631, 119th Congress (2025). "Pro Codes Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1631

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