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Title 44, Public Printing and DocumentsRelease 119-110

§2912 Preservation of Electronic Messages and Other Records

Title 44 › CHAPTER 29 — RECORDS MANAGEMENT BY THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES AND BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES › § 2912

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Archivist must make rules for how Federal agencies save electronic messages that are official records. The rules must require agencies to capture, organize, and preserve those messages under the records disposition requirements of chapter 33, make them easy to find with electronic searches, and include schedules so agencies comply as quickly as reasonably possible. The rules should, when practical, cover other electronic records too. The Archivist must review the rules from time to time and update them when needed.

Full Legal Text

Title 44, §2912

Public Printing and Documents, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Regulations Required.—
The Archivist shall promulgate regulations governing Federal agency preservation of electronic messages that are determined to be records. Such regulations shall, at a minimum—
(1)require the electronic capture, management, and preservation of such electronic records in accordance with the records disposition requirements of chapter 33;
(2)require that such electronic records are readily accessible for retrieval through electronic searches; and
(3)include timelines for Federal agency implementation of the regulations that ensure compliance as expeditiously as practicable.
(b)Coverage of Other Electronic Records.—
To the extent practicable, the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall also include requirements for the capture, management, and preservation of other electronic records.
(c)Review of Regulations Required.—
The Archivist shall periodically review and, as necessary, amend the regulations promulgated under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Deadline for

Regulations

Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XCVI, § 9602(b)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4828, provided that: “Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Archivist shall propose the

Regulations

required under section 2912(a) of title 44, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

44 U.S.C. § 2912

Title 44, Public Printing and Documents

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110