Bills · HR 7491
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7491Crime and Law Enforcement
Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act
INTRO FEB 11· LAST ACTION FEB 11
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it updates a critical legal right—the attorney-client privilege—for the digital age. In a time when more communication happens electronically, it's essential to ensure that people accused of crimes can have confidential discussions with their lawyers, even from prison. If this bill passes, it means incarcerated individuals can more freely and securely communicate with their legal teams, which can improve the fairness of legal proceedings and ensure everyone has a proper defense.
Without this bill, there's a risk that electronic communications between incarcerated people and their lawyers could be monitored, potentially undermining their right to effective legal assistance. This could lead to concerns about due process and equal access to justice. By clarifying these rules, the bill aims to uphold a core principle of the American legal system and adapt it to modern technology.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Attorney General to create or modify systems to prevent the monitoring of privileged electronic communications between incarcerated persons and their legal representatives.
This ensures confidential legal discussions remain private, safeguarding a fundamental right in the digital era.
PROVISION 02
Allows the Bureau of Prisons to retain the contents of these electronic communications until the person is released, with access for the incarcerated person.
This provides a record for both the incarcerated person and potentially for legal review, while still maintaining privacy safeguards.
PROVISION 03
Mandates strict conditions for law enforcement access to retained communications, requiring a warrant and a review by a U.S. Attorney to exclude privileged information.
This protects attorney-client privilege by creating high barriers to access, preventing unauthorized review of confidential legal strategy.
PROVISION 04
Applies attorney-client privilege to all electronic communications covered by the bill, including the protections and limitations associated with it.
This clarifies that traditional legal protections extend to modern digital forms of communication, providing legal certainty.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
D· Pennsylvania
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
22
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 66%
DEM 1 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 11
Introduced in House
FEB 11
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 7491
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 11, 2026
Last actionFeb 11, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2026
House BillHR 7491Crime and Law Enforcement
Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act
INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2026· LAST ACTION FEB 11, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
