U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB5686: No Public Executions in America Act
Status: In committee, October 15, 2026
A bill to prohibit recording or broadcasting military executions and to prohibit the use of Federal funds for public executions.
What the bill says
To prohibit recording or broadcasting military executions and to prohibit the use of Federal funds for public executions.
From the introduced text, October 15, 2026:
A BILL To prohibit recording or broadcasting military executions and to prohibit the use of Federal funds for public executions. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Public Executions in America Act . SECTION 2. Prohibition on recording or broadcasting military executions Subchapter IX of chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 870 the following new section: SECTION 871. Art. 71. Prohibition on recording or broadcasting executions (a) In general No officer, employee, or agent of the United States, or any person acting under the authority or direction of the Department of Defense, may, with respect to the execution of any person sentenced to death under this chapter, knowingly-- (1) photograph, film, videotape, make an audio recording of, or otherwise create an audio or visual recording or depiction of, the execution; (2) broadcast, transmit, stream, or otherwise make available to the public, in real time or on a delayed basis, an audio or visual recording or depiction of the execution; or (3) publish, post, upload, distribute, or cause to be distributed to the public an audio or visual recording or depiction of the execution, including through a Federal Government website, television broadcast, digital platform or interface, nongovernment website, or other electronic communications service. (b) Application The prohibitions under …
Sponsors
- Kelly, Mark (D) · primary sponsor
- Coons, Christopher (D)
Latest actions
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing, Internet, web applications, social media, Armed Forces and National Security, Digital media, Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Common questions
- What is SB5686?
- SB5686 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): No Public Executions in America Act.
- What does SB5686 do?
- In its own words: To prohibit recording or broadcasting military executions and to prohibit the use of Federal funds for public executions.
- What is the status of SB5686?
- In committee as of October 15, 2026. Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026. (October 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5686?
- Kelly, Mark (D), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB5686?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5686
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.