Right to Record Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4696 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4696 To establish an express cause of action for violations of the right to record, observe, or peacefully protest law enforcement activities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2026 Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish an express cause of action for violations of the right to record, observe, or peacefully protest law enforcement activities, and for other purposes. 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 ``Right to Record Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FIRST AMENDMENT AND RIGHT TO RECORD, OBSERVE, OR PEACEFULLY PROTEST. (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects, among other things, the right to record law enforcement officers and other public officials in public view, observe the actions of law enforcement officers and other public officials in public view, protest peacefully, and engage in other expressive activities; and (2) while the First Amendment already protects the right to record, observe, or peacefully protest law enforcement, Congress can enhance the remedies available to individuals who are deprived of this right by establishing an express statutory cause of action for such rights violations. SEC. 3. RIGHT TO RECORD, OBSERVE, OR PEACEFULLY PROTEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. (a) Right To Record, Observe, or Peacefully Protest Law Enforcement Activities.--A person has the right to record, observe, or peac