Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion – Defensive Provisions (GRANITE) Act – Foreign Censorship Shield

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Policy Status

  • Type: Model Policy
  • Status: Draft
  • Date Introduced: July 24, 2026

Task Forces

  • Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations

    • Tags

  • 2026 Annual Meeting

    • Summary

    The GRANITE Act (Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion) is a foreign censorship shield law. It prohibits state courts from recognizing, enforcing, or cooperating with any foreign judgment, order, or demand that seeks to penalize speech protected under the U.S. and this state’s Constitutions. This defensive measure blocks foreign states and international organizations from using extraterritorial censorship laws to chill the free speech, association, and innovation of our residents and businesses.       AN ACT relating to civil procedure; creating the [State] Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion (GRANITE) Act; prohibiting the recognition, enforcement, or cooperation with certain foreign judgments and orders based on foreign censorship laws; providing legislative findings; and providing an effective date.  
    Draft

    Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion – Defensive Provisions (GRANITE) Act – Foreign Censorship Shield

    Section 1. Short Title.  

    This Act may be cited as the “[State] GRANITE Act.”  

    Section 2. Legislative Findings.  

    The [State] Legislature finds that:  

    • (a) [State] has a strong public policy favoring robust protection of speech, association, and innovation, including digital communication, blockchain, and internet services.  
    • (b) Foreign states and international organizations increasingly seek to restrict or penalize speech protected under the [State] and U.S. Constitutions by enforcing foreign censorship laws extraterritorially.  
    • (c) Such actions chill the constitutionally protected speech of [State] residents and businesses.  
    • (d) [State] courts and agencies should not recognize, enforce, or cooperate with foreign judgments or orders that impose liability or restrictions for speech that would be protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the [State] Constitution.  
    • (e) This Act operates defensively to protect [State] residents and does not conflict with federal law, consistent with the federal SPEECH Act (28 U.S.C. §§ 4101–4105).  

    Section 3. Definitions.  

    1. “Foreign censorship law” means any law, order, judgment, or demand of a foreign state or international organization that restricts, penalizes, or compels disclosure regarding speech, expression, association, or content that would be protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article [relevant] of the [State] Constitution.  
    2. “Foreign judgment” includes any judgment, order, fine, or other determination issued by a court or authority outside the United States.  

    Section 4. Prohibition on Recognition and Enforcement.  

    No court in this state shall recognize, enforce, or execute any foreign judgment, fine, order, or demand that is based in whole or in part on a foreign censorship law.  

    Section 5. Prohibition on State Cooperation.  

    No agency, official, or employee of this state shall cooperate with, assist in the enforcement of, or provide any support (including service of process, information sharing, or other assistance) for any foreign judgment, order, or demand based on a foreign censorship law.  

    Section 6. Effective Date.  

    This Act takes effect upon passage.