September 23, 2026
Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the enforcement of foreign censorship judgments, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion Act
or the GRANITE Act
.
Sec. 2. Limitation on enforcement of foreign censorship judgments
(a) In general
Chapter 181 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
4106. Limitation on enforcement of foreign censorship judgments
(a) Definition
In this section:
(1) Foreign censorship law
The term foreign censorship law means any law of a foreign state that—
(A)
(i)
has the primary purpose or substantial effect of restricting or penalizing expression, expressive conduct, or expressive association;
(ii)
targets expression, expressive conduct, or expressive association based on its content, viewpoint, or speaker identity; or
(iii)
compels disclosure that would reasonably chill that expression, expressive conduct, or expressive association; and
(B)
would conflict with the protections of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States if recognized in the United States.
(2) Foreign state
The term foreign state has the meaning given the term in section 1603.
(b) Limitation on enforcement
Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law, a domestic court shall not recognize or enforce a foreign judgment, or a fine, order, or demand issued by a foreign court or a foreign state, enforcing a foreign censorship law.
(c) Right of action
A United States person against whom a foreign judgment described in subsection (b) is entered, or upon whom a judgment, fine, order, or demand described in subsection (b) is served or purportedly served, may bring an action in an appropriate district court of the United States seeking declaratory relief that such judgment, fine, order, or demand is unenforceable under subsection (b).
(b) No sovereign immunity
Section 1605(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (5)(B), by striking or
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(7)
under section 4106.
(c) Technical and conforming amendment
The table of sections for chapter 181 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: