The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee will take action Tuesday morning on a bill to permanently protect journalists from revealing their sources.

Sen. Clayton Hee, who chairs the committee, said Thursday that work isn’t finished yet on amendments to House Bill 622. He said his inclination is to move the shield law bill forward, but didn’t even hint at what changes might be made.

“Sorry, I can not give you folks any more than that,” he said.

Jeff Portnoy, a prominent First Amendment attorney speaking on behalf of 20 media groups, said he doesn’t like the way the House has changed the bill and hopes the Senate won’t further erode its protections.

“I urge you, based on five years of history, not to tamper with a bill that has worked perfectly,” he said.

Read past Civil Beat coverage here.

— Nathan Eagle