1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2017 . 2. Restrictions on protective orders and sealing of cases and settlements (a) In general Chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1660. Restrictions on protective orders and sealing of cases and settlements (a) (1) In any civil action in which the pleadings state facts that are relevant to the protection of public health or safety, a court shall not enter, by stipulation or otherwise, an order otherwise authorized under rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, an order otherwise authorized approving a settlement agreement that would restrict the disclosure of such information, or an order otherwise authorized restricting access to court records unless in connection with such order the court has first made independent findings of fact that— (A) such order would not restrict the disclosure of information which is relevant to the protection of public health or safety; or (B) (i) the public interest in the disclosure of past, present, or potential public health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information or records in question