Public Safety Free Speech Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1247 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1247 To ensure the ability of public safety officers to retain their right to free speech on matters related to public safety, working conditions, and other matters. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 2, 2025 Mr. Schmitt introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To ensure the ability of public safety officers to retain their right to free speech on matters related to public safety, working conditions, and other matters. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety Free Speech Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Covered employee.--The term ``covered employee'' means-- (A) a qualified law enforcement officer (as defined in section 926B(c) of title 18, United States Code); (B) an individual employed by an employer for the purposes of providing fire-fighting services or emergency medical services; or (C) a Federal firefighter described in section 8331(21) or 8401(14) of title 5, United States Code. (2) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means-- (A) a law enforcement agency, fire department, fire district, or emergency medical services agency which employs a covered employee on either a full-time or part-time basis; or (B) a county, township, village, city, municipality, special district, fire authority, county improvement district, authority, public entity with the authority to spend or receive public funds, or other political subdivisions of a State and includes any entity jointly created by 2 or more public employers. (3) Personally identifia