,i  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #edii  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #af1 #bjad  
,mr4 ,swalwell ( ,cali=nia 7= himself1  
,mr4 ,%]man1 ,mr4 ,coh51 & ,mr4 ,crd5as7
 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to prohibit contracts t       
prohibit consum]s f mak+ c]ta9 public   
comm5ts on bus9esses4  #a4 ,%ort title  
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,consum]      
,review ,fre$om ,act ( #bjad4  #b4      
,protect+ consum] spee*  7a7            
,prohibition ,a provision ( a =m        
contract is void f ! inception ( su*    
contract if said provision--  7#a7      
prohibits or re/ricts ! ability ( a     
p]son :o is a p>ty to ! =m contract to  
engage 9 a cov]$ communication2  7#b7   
imposes a p5alty or fee aga9/ a p]son :o
 is a p>ty to ! =m contract = engag+ 9 a
 cov]$ communication2 or  7#c7 assigns  
or provides an exclusive lic5se1 or     
requires a p]son :o is a p>ty to ! =m   
contract to assign or provide an        

exclusive lic5se1 to any bus9ess1 o!r   
p]son1 or entity any intellectual       
prop]ty rights t su* p>ty to ! =m       
contract has or may h 9 a cov]$         
communication4  7b7 ,rule ( con/ruction 
,no?+ 9 subsection 7a7 %all be con/ru$  
to affect--  7#a7 any duty (            
confid5tiality impos$ by law 7includ+   
ag5cy guidance72 or  7#b7 any civil     
action = defamation1 libel1 or sl&]1 or 
any simil> cause ( action4  7c7         
,exceptions ,subsection 7a7 %all n apply
 to ! ext5t t a provision ( a =m        
contract prohibits disclosure ( !       
foll[+3  7#a7 ,trade secrets or         
comm]cial or f9ancial in=mation obta9$ f
 a p]son & privileg$ or confid5tial4    
7#b7 ,p]sonnel & m$ical files & simil>  
files ! disclosure ( :i* w\ld con/itute 
a cle>ly unw>rant$ invasion ( p]sonal   
privacy4  7#c7 ,records or in=mation    
compil$ = law en=cem5t purposes1 !      
disclosure ( :i* w\ld con/itute a cle>ly
 unw>rant$ invasion ( p]sonal privacy4  
7d7 ,unlawful conduct ,x %all be        

unlawful = a bus9ess to (f] or ent] into
 a =m contract conta9+ a provision      
describ$ z void 9 subsection 7a74  7e7  
,en=cem5t by ,f$]al ,trade ,commission  
7#a7 ,unfair or deceptive acts or       
practices ,a violation ( subsection 7d7 
%all be treat$ z a violation ( a        
regulation "u section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 (
 ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae  
,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b77 reg>d+     
unfair or deceptive acts or practices4  
7#b7 ,p[]s ( commission ,! ,f$]al ,trade
 ,commission %all en=ce ?is section 9 ! 
same mann]1 by ! same means1 & ) ! same 
jurisdiction1 p[]s1 & duties z ?\gh all 
applicable t]ms & provisions ( ! ,f$]al 
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#da et seq47 7 incorporat$ into & made a
 "p ( ?is ,act4 ,any p]son :o violates  
?is section or a regulation promulgat$  
"u ?is section %all be subject to !     
p5alties & entitl$ to ! privileges &    
immunities provid$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,trade    
,commission ,act4  7f7 ,/ate en=cem5t ,!
 attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate may file an   

action to en=ce subsection 7d7 seek+    
appropriate relief4 ,9 any case 9 :i* ! 
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate has reason to  
believe t an int]e/ ( ! resid5ts ( t    
,/ate has be5 or is ?reat5$ or adv]sely 
affect$ by ! engagem5t ( any p]son 9 a  
practice t violates any regulation ( !  
,commission prescrib$ "u ?is section1 ! 
,/ate1 z p>5s patriae1 may br+ a civil  
action on behalf ( ! resid5ts ( ! ,/ate 
9 a di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates (    
appropriate jurisdiction to seek        
appropriate relief4  7g7 ,def9itions    
7#a7 ,! t]m p]son means a natural p]son4
  7#b7 ,! t]m bus9ess means a legal     
entity organiz$ to accompli% a bus9ess  
purpose1 includ+ ei!r =-pr(it or        
n-=-pr(it4  7#c7 ,! t]m =m contract     
means a /&>diz$ contract us$ by a       
bus9ess & impos$ on a p>ty )\t a        
mean+ful opportunity = said p>ty to     
negotiate ! /&>diz$ t]ms1 b does n      
include a contract e/abli%+ an          
employ]-employee or indep5d5t contractor
 relation%ip4  7#d7 ,! t]m cov]$        

communication means a p]son's writt51   
v]bal1 or pictorial review1 p]=mance    
assessm5t (1 or o!r simil> analysis (1 !
 products1 s]vices1 or conduct ( a      
bus9ess :i* is a p>ty to ! =m contract4 
7#e7 ,! t]m writt5 includes words       
provid$ by electronic means4  7#f7 ,!   
t]m v]bal includes spee* provid$ by     
electronic means4  7#g7 ,! t]m pictorial
 includes pictures1 photographs1 & video
 provid$ by electronic means4  7h7      
,effective dates  7#a7 ,subsections 7a71
 7b71 7c71 7d71 & 7g7 %all apply to any 
contracts 9 effect on or aft] date (    
enactm5t4  7#b7 ,subsections 7e7 & 7f7  
%all apply to any contracts 9 effect on 
or aft] "o ye> aft] date ( enactm5t4    
#c4 ,relation to ,/ate causes ( action  
,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$ to     
affect any cause ( action br\ght by a   
p]son t exi/s or may exi/ "u ,/ate law4