Media and confidential news sources would be protected from revealing anonymous sources under a bill passed by the state Assembly Tuesday.
The bill offers protection for limiting disclosure of anonymous news sources and protects reporters from subpoenas requesting disclosure.
Opponents of the bill said it would lead to difficulties in assembling evidence for criminal cases and collecting information in libel or slander suits.
State Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, introduced an amendment that would allow the collection of information from news sources in the case of a defamation suit. The amendment was tabled for further review, effectively killing it in the Assembly, but the amendment may be taken up again in the state Senate.
State Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, one of the authors of the bill, said 37 other states offer similar protections for the media and none of them have reported problems.
The bill was messaged immediately to the Senate, where it will await a hearing.
