The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is opposing suggested changes to a financial disclosure rule covering amicus briefs, saying broadening the reporting requirements will ”chill core First Amendment interests.”

An Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules subcommittee is considering changes to the current disclosure rule after two members of Congress raised concerns that it allows parties to fund amicus efforts while concealing the funding source. Under the current Rule 29, filers must indicate whether a party assisted in authoring a brief and if anyone other than the amicus curiae contributed money specifically earmarked “to fund preparing or submitting” the brief. The suggested language put forth by the subcommittee would require revealing general financial support from a party beyond a particular brief submission in some instances.