Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4072

Public Access to Safety and Building Codes

Pro Codes Act

Legislative Progress

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Senate

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Law

This bill clarifies that private organizations can keep the copyright on technical standards—like building codes or electrical safety rules—even after a government turns those standards into law. To keep their copyright, these organizations must provide a free, searchable version of the rules online for the public to read.
The policy affects 'standards development organizations' and the general public. It ensures that people can look up the specific safety laws they are required to follow without being forced to buy an expensive printed book or a digital subscription.
This addresses a long-standing legal debate over whether a private rule becomes 'public domain' once it is adopted as law. The bill seeks a middle ground: it protects the income of the groups that write the rules so they can keep updating them, while ensuring the public has free access to the text of the law.
To keep their legal protections, organizations must make the standards available online at no cost with a searchable table of contents. While they can require users to create a free account, they are prohibited from using or selling a user's personal information without express consent.