HR 4678
RAP Act of 2025
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, the Restoring Artistic Protection Act of 2025 (RAP Act), aims to protect defendants from having their creative or artistic expressions used against them in court. It amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to generally prohibit the admission of a defendant’s art, music, writing, or other creative works as evidence. However, there’s an exception that allows evidence to be admitted if the government can demonstrate a clear and convincing link between the expression and the specific facts of the case – either proving the defendant intended a literal meaning or that the expression directly relates to the crime or civil claim. The bill also requires redaction and limiting instructions for the jury when such evidence is admitted.
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Primary sponsor
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson
Cosponsors
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