H.R. 1631Pro Codes Act

1 recorded action301 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Darrell Issa [R-CA-48]
Cosponsors: 19 · 11 Republicans · 8 Democrats
Policy area: Commerce
Committee: Judiciary Committee
Latest action: Jul 22, 2024 · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).

IntroducedMar 17, 2023
Failed in the HouseJul 22, 2024
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This bill addresses copyright protections for privately-developed technical standards that are incorporated into a law or regulation (e.g., a state law that requires buildings to comply with the electrical standards developed by a private standards development organization).

Currently, there is not a consensus as to whether a technical standard that has been incorporated by reference into a law retains copyright protection. (A technical standard created by a private organization is typically eligible for copyright protection, but some courts have ruled that standards incorporated into law lose their copyright protections for various reasons. For example, some courts have held that incorporated standards effectively became law and therefore entered the public domain.)

Under this bill, a technical standard shall retain its copyright protection even if it has been incorporated by reference into a law or regulation, if the applicable standards development organization makes the standard available on a free publicly accessible online source and in a format that facilitates the location of specific content.

If a party asserts that an incorporated technical standard has lost its copyright protection because it has not been made available for free online, the party making that assertion shall bear the burden of proof.

The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Copyright Office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO must conduct several studies and report on the findings, including the potential impacts of the bill on consumers and historically disadvantaged communities.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 1631 as reported to House on Jul 22, 2024. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 357

House Jul 22, 2024

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Pro Codes Act

Failed · Two-thirds required

248 Yea 127 Nay 56 not voting

Crossed both parties 127 of 375 voting members broke with their own party: 78 Democrats, 49 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members431 members

Democratic212 members

Republican219 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors19 · 11 Republicans · 8 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 1631 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 163121 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 1631 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONfiled by FTI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: National Electrical Manufacturers Association PAC

Manufacturing · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills) · Budget/Appropriations +15 more11 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Science/Technology · Transportation · Agriculture · Aviation/Airlines/Airports +8 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCILfiled by SLAIMAN CONSULTING LLC

INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL (ICC)

Disaster Planning/Emergencies · Budget/Appropriations · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Clean Air and Water (quality)8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Education · Environment/Superfund · Copyright/Patent/Trademark +4 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERSfiled by NVG, LLC

ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Constitution · Intelligence · Copyright/Patent/Trademark +3 more4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

PLUMBING-HEATING-COOLING CONTRACTORS--NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Budget/Appropriations · Chemicals/Chemical Industry · Education · Energy/Nuclear +7 more4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME)filed by KEELEY LAW AND POLICY

ASME

Science/Technology3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

79 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-04. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.