,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bcjd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #ac1 #bjae ,mr4  
,f>5?old 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,e%oo1 ,mr4   
,issa1 ,mr4 ,franks ( ,arizona1 & ,mr4  
,polis7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y   
,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #bh1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 to create a special motion
 to dismiss /rategic lawsuits aga9/     
public p>ticipation 7,,slapp suits74    
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,secur+ ,p>ticipation1 ,engagem5t1 &  
,k ,fre$om by ,r$uc+ ,egregi\s ,ef=ts   
,act ( #bjae or ! ,,speak ,,free ,act ( 
#bjae4  #b4 ,special motion to dismiss  
/rategic lawsuits aga9/ public          
p>ticipation  7a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,"p ,,vi (  
title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by add+ aft] *apt] #aha ! foll[+ new   
*apt]3  #ahb ,special motion to dismiss 
/rategic lawsuits aga9/ public          
p>ticipation  ,sec4 #dbja4 ,/rategic    
lawsuit aga9/ public p>ticipation def9$4
 #dbjb4 ,motion to dismiss /rategic     

lawsuit aga9/ public p>ticipation4      
#dbjc4 ,discov]y4 #dbjd4 ,int]locutory  
appeal4 #dbje4 ,motion to qua%4 #dbjf4  
,removal4 #dbjg4 ,fees1 co/s1 &         
sanctions4 #dbjh4 ,def9itions4  #dbja4  
,/rategic lawsuit aga9/ public          
p>ticipation def9$ ,9 ?is *apt]1 ! t]m  
/rategic lawsuit aga9/ public           
p>ticipation or ,,slapp suit means a    
claim t arises f an oral or writt5      
/atem5t or o!r expression1 or conduct 9 
fur!rance ( su* expression1 by ! p]son  
aga9/ :om ! claim is ass]t$ t 0 made 9  
connection ) an (ficial proce$+ or ab\t 
a matt] ( public conc]n4  #dbjb4        
,special motion to dismiss /rategic     
lawsuit aga9/ public p>ticipation  7a7  
,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9 subsection 
7b71 a p]son aga9/ :om a ,,slapp suit is
 ass]t$ may file a special motion to    
dismiss4 ,if ! p>ty fil+ a special      
motion to dismiss a ,,slapp suit makes a
 prima facie %[+ t ! claim at issue     
arises f an oral or writt5 /atem5t or   
o!r expression by ! def5dant t 0 made 9 

connection ) an (ficial proce$+ or ab\t 
a matt] ( public conc]n1 !n ! motion    
%all be grant$ & ! claim dismiss$ )     
prejudice1 unless ! respond+ p>ty       
demon/rates t ! claim is likely to      
succe$ on ! m]its1 9 :i* case ! motion  
%all be d5i$4  7b7 ,exceptions  7#a7    
,en=cem5t actions ,! c\rt %all n grant a
 special motion to dismiss "u ?is       
section if ! claim is an en=cem5t action
 br\ght by an ag5cy or entity ( ! ,f$]al
 ,gov]nm5t or a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t4
  7#b7 ,comm]cial spee* ,except z       
provid$ 9 subsection 7c71 ! c\rt %all n 
grant a special motion to dismiss "u ?is
 section if ! claim is br\ght aga9/ a   
p]son prim>ily engag$ 9 ! bus9ess (     
sell+ or leas+ goods or s]vices :]e su* 
claim arises f ! /atem5t or conduct (   
su* p]son & su* /atem5t or conduct--    
7,a7 consi/s ( repres5tations ( fact    
ab\t su* p]son's or a bus9ess           
competitor's goods or s]vices1 t is made
 = ! purpose ( obta9+ approval =1       
promot+1 or secur+ sales or leases (1 or

 comm]cial transactions 91 ! p]son's    
goods or s]vices1 or ! /atem5t or       
conduct 0 made 9 ! c\rse ( deliv]+ !    
p]son's goods or s]vices2 &  7,b7 arises
 out ( ! sale or lease ( goods1 s]vices1
 or an insurance product1 insurance     
s]vices1 or a comm]cial transaction 9   
:i* ! int5d$ audi5ce is an actual or    
pot5tial buy] or cu/om]4  7#c7 ,public  
int]e/ ,except z provid$ 9 subsection   
7c71 ! c\rt %all n grant a special      
motion to dismiss "u ?is section if !   
claim is a public int]e/ claim4  7c7    
,limitations on exceptions ,p>agraphs   
7#b7 & 7#c7 ( subsection 7b7 %all n     
apply z to--  7#a7 any claim aga9/ a    
p]son or entity engag$ 9 ! dissem9ation 
( ideas or expression 9 any book or     
academic j\rnal1 :ile engag$ 9 ! ga!r+1 
receiv+1 or process+ ( in=mation =      
communication to ! public2  7#b7 any    
claim aga9/ any p]son or entity bas$ ^u 
/atem5ts or conduct conc]n+ ! creation1 
dissem9ation1 exhibition1 adv]tisem5t1  
or o!r simil> promotion ( j\rnali/ic1   

consum] comm5t>y1 dramatic1 lit]>y1     
musical1 political1 or arti/ic works1   
includ+ motion pictures1 television     
programs1 or articles publi%$ onl9e or 9
 a newspap] or magaz9e ( g5]al          
circulation2 or  7#c7 any claim aga9/ a 
nonpr(it organization t receives m ?an  
#ej p]c5t ( annual rev5ue grants or     
aw>ds f1 programs (1 or reimbursem5ts = 
s]vices r5d]$ to ! ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or    
local gov]nm5t4  7d7 ,"t ,limit ,unless 
! c\rt grants an ext5sion1 a motion to  
dismiss a ,,slapp suit %all be fil$--   
7#a7 n lat] ?an #de days aft] ! date (  
s]vice ( ! claim1 if ! claim is fil$ 9 a
 ,f$]al c\rt2 or  7#b7 n lat] ?an #cj   
days aft] ! date ( removal1 if ! claim  
is remov$ to ,f$]al c\rt "u section     
#dbjf4  7e7 ,he>+  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except
 z provid$ 9 p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c71 !   
c\rt %all set a he>+ on a special motion
 to dismiss a ,,slapp suit on a date n  
lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( s]vice (
 ! special motion to dismiss a ,,slapp  
suit4  7#b7 ,he>+ po/pon$ ,except z     

provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#c71 ! c\rt may     
po/pone ! he>+ = up to #fj days1 b %all 
set ! he>+ on a date t is n lat] ?an #ij
 days aft] ! date ( s]vice ( ! special  
motion to dismiss a ,,slapp suit1 if--  
7,a7 ! docket conditions ( ! c\rt       
require a lat] he>+2  7,b7 !re is a %[+ 
( good cause2 or  7,c7 ! p>ties agree to
 po/pone ! he>+4  7#c7 ,ext5sion =      
discov]y ,if ! c\rt all[s specifi$      
discov]y "u subsection 7a7 ( section    
#dbjc1 ! c\rt may ext5d ! he>+ date to  
all[ specifi$ discov]y "u t subsection1 
b ! c\rt %all set ! he>+ on a date n    
lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date ( s]vice 
( ! special motion to dismiss a ,,slapp 
suit4  7f7 ,rul+ ,! c\rt mu/ rule on a  
special motion to dismiss a ,,slapp suit
 n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* 
! f9al pap] is requir$ to be fil$ or !  
date argum5t is he>d1 :i*ev] is lat]4   
7g7 ,evid5ce  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 det]m9+  
:e!r a legal action %\ld be dismiss$ "u 
?is *apt]1 ! c\rt %all consid] ! plead+s
 & affidavits /at+ ! facts on :i* !     

liability or def5se is bas$4  7#b7      
,discov]y ,if ! c\rt has ord]$ specifi$ 
discov]y pursuant to section #dbjc1 !   
c\rt may consid] su* discov]y4  #dbjc4  
,/ay ( discov]y  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z 
provid$ 9 subsection 7b71 ^u ! fil+ ( a 
special motion to dismiss "u section    
#dbjb1 discov]y proce$+s 9 ! action %all
 be /ay$ until a f9al & unappealable    
ord] is ent]$ on su* motion unless good 
cause is %[n = specifi$ discov]y4  7b7  
,exception ,a /ay issu$ "u subsection   
7a7 bas$ on ! fil+ ( a special motion to
 dismiss "u section #dbjb1 t only seeks 
dismissal ( a ?ird-p>ty claim or a cross
 claim ass]t$ by a def5dant %all only   
apply to discov]y t is reque/$ by ! p>ty
 ass]t+ ! ?ird-p>ty claim or cross claim
 or discov]y t relates solely to !      
?ird-p>ty claim or cross claim4  #dbjd4 
,int]locutory appeal ,an aggriev$ p>ty  
may take an imm$iate int]locutory appeal
 f an ord] grant+ or d5y+ 9 :ole or 9 "p
 a special motion to dismiss "u section 
#dbjb4  #dbje4 ,motion to qua% ,a p]son 

^: p]sonally id5tify+ in=mation is s\ght
 9 connection ) a claim subject to !    
proc$ure describ$ 9 section #dbjb7;a7   
may at any "t file a motion to qua% !   
ord] to produce ! in=mation4 ,if ! p>ty 
fil+ a motion to qua% makes a prima     
facie %[+ t ! ord] is = p]sonally       
id5tify+ in=mation1 !n ! motion %all be 
grant$ & ! ord] to produce ! p]sonally  
id5tify+ in=mation %all be qua%$1 unless
 ! respond+ p>ty demon/rates ) an       
evid5ti>y %[+ t ! claim is likely to    
succe$ on ! m]its ( ea* & e elem5t ( !  
claim1 9 :i* case ! motion to qua% %all 
be d5i$4 ,no det]m9ations made 9 decid+ 
a motion to qua% "u ?is section %all    
imp$e or o!rwise dim9i% ! availability (
 ! proc$ures describ$ 9 section         
#dbjb7;a74  #dbjf4 ,removal  7a7        
,special motion ,to dismiss ,,slapp suit
  7#a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,except z provid$ 9    
p>agraph 7#b71 a civil action 9 a ,/ate 
c\rt t raises a claim describ$ 9 section
 #dbjb7;a7 may be remov$ to ! di/rict   
c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = ! judicial     

di/rict & division embrac+ ! place :]e !
 civil action is p5d+4 ,! gr\nds =      
removal provid$ 9 ?is section ne$ n     
appe> on ! face ( ! compla9t b may be   
%[n 9 ! petition = removal4  7#b7       
,exception ,removal may n be reque/$ "u 
p>agraph 7#a7 on ! basis ( a ?ird-p>ty  
claim or a cross claim ass]t$ by a      
def5dant4  7#c7 ,rem& ,if a civil action
 is remov$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 & an ord]   
d5y+ 9 its entirety a motion to dismiss 
fil$ "u section #dbjb is n appeal$ )9 ! 
"t p]mitt$ by law or all pot5tial       
appellate proce$+s h be5 exhau/$1 ! c\rt
 %all rem& ! rema9+ claims to ! ,/ate   
c\rt f :i* ! civil action 0 remov$4 ,!  
rema9+ claims %all n be rem&$ to ,/ate  
c\rt if ! ord] grant$ a motion to       
dismiss 9 "p & su* ord] is n appeal$ )9 
! "t p]mitt$ by law or all pot5tial     
appellate proce$+s h be5 exhau/$4  7b7  
,motion ,to ,qua% ,a proce$+ 9 a ,/ate  
c\rt 9 :i* a reque/ or ord] t reasonably
 appe>s to be a reque/ or ord] describ$ 
9 section #dbje is s\ght or issu$ may be

 remov$ to ! di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates = ! judicial di/rict & division  
embrac+ ! place :]e ! civil action is   
p5d+ by any p]son t seeks to file a     
motion to qua% "u section #dbje & ass]ts
 a def5se bas$ on ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to ! 
,con/itution or laws ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 
#dbjg4 ,fees1 co/s1 & sanctions  7a7    
,attorneys fees ,except z provid$ 9     
subsection 7c71 a c\rt %all aw>d a p]son
 t files & prevails on a motion to      
dismiss "u section #dbjb or a motion to 
qua% "u section #dbje1 litigation co/s1 
exp]t witness fees1 & reasonable        
attorneys fees4 ,a p>ty %all be a       
prevail+ p>ty z to a special motion to  
dismiss or to qua% if a claim or        
discov]y reque/ is volunt>ily dismiss$  
or )drawn aft] ! fil+ ( a special motion
 to dismiss4  7b7 ,frivol\s motions to  
dismiss ,except z provid$ 9 subsection  
7c71 if a c\rt f9ds t a motion to       
dismiss "u section #dbjb1 a motion to   
qua% "u section #dbje1 or a notice (    
removal "u section #dbjf is frivol\s or 

is solely int5d$ to cause unnecess>y    
delay1 ! c\rt %all aw>d litigation co/s1
 exp]t witness fees1 & reasonable       
attorneys fees to ! p>ty t respond$ to !
 motion or notice4  7c7 ,exception ,!   
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t & ! gov]nm5t ( a ,/ate1
 or political subdivision !re(1 may n   
recov] litigation co/s1 exp]t witness   
fees1 or attorneys fees "u ?is section4 
#dbjh4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is *apt]3 7#a7   
,matt] ( public conc]n ,! t]m matt] (   
public conc]n means an issue relat$ to--
  7,a7 heal? or safety2  7,b7           
environm5tal1 economic1 or community    
well-be+2  7,c7 ! gov]nm5t2  7,d7 a     
public (ficial or public figure2 or     
7,e7 a good1 product1 or s]vice 9 !     
m>ketplace4  7#b7 ,nonpr(it organization
 ,! t]m nonpr(it organization means any 
organization t is describ$ 9 section    
#eja7;c7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code (   
#aihf & is exempt f tax "u section      
#eja7;a7 ( su* ,code4  7#c7 ,public     
int]e/ claim ,! t]m public int]e/ claim 
means a claim-- 7,a7 t is br\ght solely 

on behalf ( ! g5]al public2  7,b7 :]e   
private en=cem5t is necess>y2  7,c7 t   
places a disproportionate f9ancial burd5
 on ! pla9tiff 9 relation to !          
pla9tiff's /ake 9 ! matt]2  7,d7 t1 if  
successful1 en=ces an important "r      
affect+ ! public int]e/ & conf]s a      
significant b5efit on ! g5]al public2 & 
7,e7 not)/&+ attorneys fees1 co/s1 or   
p5alties1 w\ld provide relief only = !  
g5]al public or a class ( :i* ! pla9tiff
 is a memb]4  7#d7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate   
means ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict 
( ,columbia1 ea* commonweal?1 t]ritory1 
or possession ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & ea*  
f$]ally recogniz$ ,indian tribe4  4  7b7
 ,te*nical & ,con=m+ ,am5dm5ts  7#a7    
,table ( *apt]s ,! table ( *apt]s = "p  
,,vi ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1  
is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to
 *apt] #aha ! foll[+ new item3          
#ahb4,special ,motion to dismiss        
/rategic lawsuits aga9/ public          
p>ticipation#dbja  4  7#b7 ,int]locutory
 decisions ,section #abib7;a7 ( title   

#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ !        
semicolon at ! end & ins]t+ a p]iod2    
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ !        
semicolon at ! end & ins]t+ a p]iod2 &  
7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7   
,int]locutory ord]s grant+ or d5y+ 9    
:ole or 9 "p special motions to dismiss 
"u section #dbjb4  4  7#c7 ,exceptions  
to dis*>ge ,section #ebc7;a7 ( title    
#aa1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#ah71 by /rik+ 2 or at 
! end & ins]t+ a semicolon2  7,b7 9     
p>agraph 7#ai71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at !   
end & ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7,c7 by ins]t+    
aft] p>agraph 7#ai7 ! foll[+3  7#bj7 =  
litigation co/s1 exp]t witness fees1 or 
reasonable attorney's fees aw>d$ by a   
c\rt "u *apt] #ahb ( title #bh or "u    
comp>able ,/ate laws4  4  7c7           
,relation%ip to o!r laws ,no?+ 9 ?is    
,act1 or ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act1   
%all preempt or sup]s$e any ,f$]al or   
,/ate /atutory1 con/itutional1 case1 or 
common law t provides ! equival5t or    

great] protection = p]sons engag+ 9     
activities protect$ by ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t 
to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4    
7d7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,?is ,act1 & !  
am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act1 %all be      
con/ru$ broadly to effectuate ! purpose 
& int5t ( ?is ,act4