Sensible Classification Act of 2023
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (10 May 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
What this bill does
The Sensible Classification Act of 2023 would revise how the federal government classifies and declassifies national security information. It sets clearer rules for who may grant original classification authority, requires that officials be trained before receiving such authority, and directs agencies to establish procedures for handling information that a contractor or employee believes should be classified but has no authority to classify. The bill also requires agencies to review and declassify certain records over 25 years old when processing Freedom of Information Act or mandatory declassification review requests, mandates agency training to discourage "over-classification," and makes administrative changes to the Public Interest Declassification Board, including allowing it to hire additional staff. It further directs research into technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve classification and declassification systems.
The bill primarily affects federal agencies with classification authority, their personnel who hold or grant security clearances, government contractors, and oversight bodies such as the Information Security Oversight Office and the Director of National Intelligence. It would require these agencies to study and report to Congress on the number of personnel holding security clearances, Top Secret or Secret access, sensitive compartmented information access, special access programs, and Department of Energy Q/L clearances, with the goal of minimizing clearance numbers to what is operationally necessary.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 10, 2023, by Senator John Cornyn with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not received a vote and remains in committee.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
10 May 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 1518 do?
- The Sensible Classification Act of 2023 would revise how the federal government classifies and declassifies national security information. It sets clearer rules for who may grant original classification authority, requires that officials be trained before receiving such authority, and directs agencies to establish procedures for handling information that a contractor or employee believes should be classified but has no authority to classify. The bill also requires agencies to review and declassify certain records over 25 years old when processing Freedom of Information Act or mandatory declassification review requests, mandates agency training to discourage "over-classification," and makes administrative changes to the Public Interest Declassification Board, including allowing it to hire additional staff. It further directs research into technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve classification and declassification systems. The bill primarily affects federal agencies with classification authority, their personnel who hold or grant security clearances, government contractors, and oversight bodies such as the Information Security Oversight Office and the Director of National Intelligence. It would require these agencies to study and report to Congress on the number of personnel holding security clearances, Top Secret or Secret access, sensitive compartmented information access, special access programs, and Department of Energy Q/L clearances, with the goal of minimizing clearance numbers to what is operationally necessary. The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 10, 2023, by Senator John Cornyn with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not received a vote and remains in committee.
- Has S. 1518 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1518. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1518?
- S. 1518 was sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), with 9 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1518?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (10 May 2023).
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