A coalition of Hawaii news media is blaming the state Senate for failing to extend a journalism shield law past June.

The House adopted a last-minute amendment that deleted changes both chambers previously negotiated which limited the law’s scope.

Hours later, a divided Senate passed its version without responding to the House changes. The Senate proposal limited protections for all journalists and excluded those who work for digital newspapers and free publications.

An attorney for the Hawaii Shield Law Coalition, a group that includes The Associated Press, said Wednesday the bill is effectively dead.

Sen. Les Ihara supports the existing shield law but says he didn’t have enough votes to change the Senate bill. He says the House killed the bill by introducing an amendment without coordinating with the Senate.