U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB4749: JAWBONE Act
Status: In committee, September 16, 2026
A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a Federal cause of action to address jawboning, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a Federal cause of action to address jawboning, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, June 11, 2026:
A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a Federal cause of action to address jawboning, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act or the JAWBONE Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Private speech intermediaries, such as broadcasters and interactive computer service providers, as well as providers of speech-enabling artificial intelligence systems, are critical for access to information and individual expression and have a right to independent editorial judgement. (2) Such entities can also serve as chokepoints convenient for the government to target for censorship of disfavored speech and information. (3) Government coercion of such private speech intermediaries and artificial intelligence system providers threatens freedom of speech and open inquiry, particularly for users who have no say in, or knowledge of, how their speech or access to information is affected. (4) At the same time, not all government communication to a private speech platform is coercive. Interactions between the government and websites, for example, may serve lawful enforcement purposes or facilitate legitimate dialogue with the private sector. (5) Members of the public also have an interest under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in hearing what their government has to say. The …
Sponsors
- Cruz, Ted (R) · primary sponsor
- Wyden, Ron (D, SD-OR)
Latest actions
- : Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Government ethics and transparency, public corruption, Civil actions and liability, Computer security and identity theft, Assault and harassment offenses, Internet, web applications, social media, Advanced technology and technological innovations, Science, Technology, Communications, Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Common questions
- What is SB4749?
- SB4749 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): JAWBONE Act.
- What does SB4749 do?
- In its own words: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a Federal cause of action to address jawboning, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SB4749?
- In committee as of September 16, 2026. Latest action: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (September 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB4749?
- Cruz, Ted (R), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB4749?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4749
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.