# 119-s-867: Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025

119-s-867, Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM); status introduced (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-867
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-867
- Congress: 119
- Title: Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Protects broadcasters from FCC actions based on their viewpoints.** This bill would bar the Federal Communications Commission from revoking licenses or imposing viewpoint-based conditions on approvals or transactions, while keeping authority to act for certain crimes and for speech that meets the constitutional test for incitement. - Broadcasters and license holders: Would be shielded from license revocation or other FCC penalties that are tied to opinions broadcast by the licensee or its affiliates. - Buyers and sellers in station sales or transfers: The FCC could not attach conditions to approvals under key communications statutes based on the viewpoints of any party or affiliate. - Enforcement staff and prosecutors: The bill preserves FCC authority to act for violations tied to lotteries, fraud, and obscene language and to address content that legally qualifies as incitement. - Agency independence and political pressure: Findings stress FCC independence and aim to block investigations or threats used to intimidate licensees into following outside political agendas.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Protect broadcasters from viewpoint penalties: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would bar the FCC from revoking a broadcast license or taking other action because of a person’s broadcast viewpoints. It would stop the FCC from adding viewpoint-based conditions when approving transfers or authorizations. The ban would cover applicants, successors, and affili…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act
- 119-s-1814: Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-867 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/867)

## Related
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [119-s-1814: Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1814)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-867 (as of 2026-09-10).