Bill
HR 1234
The bill shifts the Constitution Annotated to digital-only formats (digital decennial editions and digital pocket-part supplements) released by the Library of Congress, ending mand
Title: Commending Julissa Esquivel for her contributions as principal of Lorenzo G. Alarcon Primary School
Classification: Resolution
Introduced: February 12, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Stephanie I. Bice; cosponsors: Norma J. Torres, Joseph D. Morelle, Mike Carey
Status (latest provided): Reported enrolled; received in Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (4/1/2025)
Note on inconsistency
- The bill metadata and official title indicate a simple congratulatory/honorary resolution for Julissa Esquivel.
- The full text/version content provided, however, contains substantive amendments to Public Law 91–589 (2 U.S.C. 168 et seq.) concerning the Constitution Annotated and the Library of Congress’s publication practices. This summary focuses on the operative provisions that appear in the bill text you supplied.
Purpose
- To change how the Library of Congress produces and distributes the Constitution Annotated (commonly known as “Constitution Annotated”), shifting from printed hardbound decennial editions and pocket-part supplements to digital editions and digital cumulative supplements available to Congress and the public.
Key provisions
- Amend 2 U.S.C. 168 to make the Librarian of Congress’s duty to prepare revised editions subject to new subsection (b).
- Require digital decennial revised editions:
- Beginning after the October 2031 Supreme Court term and every tenth October term thereafter, the Librarian shall prepare a digital decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated in place of the hardbound decennial edition.
- Require digital cumulative pocket-part supplements:
- Beginning after the October 2025 Supreme Court term and for each subsequent October term occurring in an odd-numbered year whose final digit is not 1, the Librarian shall prepare a digital cumulative pocket-part supplement to the most recent decennial edition in place of hardbound pocket-part supplements.
- Public access and availability:
- Digital decennial editions and digital cumulative pocket-part supplements must be made available on a public Library of Congress website.
- The Librarian must ensure continuing availability of those documents to Congress and the public.
- Printing limitations and repeal:
- Amend existing printing requirements so that the statutory mandate to print does not apply after completion of the October 2025 Supreme Court term; thereafter the decennial editions and cumulative pocket parts provided under this measure are to be provided exclusively in digital form.
- Repeal Section 4 of Public Law 91–589 (2 U.S.C. 168c) (text not shown; likely related to distribution/printing obligations).
Who is affected
- Library of Congress and the Librarian of Congress (new obligations and digital publication duties).
- Congress, legal practitioners, scholars, courts, libraries, and members of the public who use the Constitution Annotated (access moves to digital-only after specified dates).
- Commercial publishers and vendors that produced or distributed the printed editions or supplements may see reduced demand.
Timeline and implementation
- October 2025 Supreme Court term: first digital cumulative pocket-part supplement required (after completion of that term); statutory printing requirement ceases after that term.
- October 2031 term: first digital decennial revised edition required; thereafter every tenth October term.
- Cumulative digital supplements required on odd-numbered years’ October terms whose final digit is not 1 (per the text).
Procedural history (selected)
- Introduced in House: 2/12/2025; referred to House Committee on House Administration.
- Passed House under suspension of the rules by voice vote: 3/31/2025 (debate 40 minutes). Motion to reconsider laid on table same day.
- Received in Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration: 4/1/2025.
- Placed on Congressional and Memorial Resolutions Calendar and adopted/laid before House in May 2025; reported enrolled 5/25/2025 (per provided actions).
Implications
- Moves official, authoritative legal annotation of Supreme Court constitutional decisions to an accessible digital format on the Library of Congress website and ends the statutory printing requirement after October 2025, likely reducing printing/distribution costs and modernizing access.
- Users who rely on printed volumes will need to use the Library’s digital resources after the statutory cutoff dates.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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