,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ggga  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,july #bd1 #bjbj,mr4  
,coh5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y   
,a ,,bill  ,to protect fir/ am5dm5t     
rights ( petition & free spee* by       
prev5t+ ,/ates & ! ,unit$ ,/ates f all[+
 m]itless lawsuits aris+ f acts 9       
fur!rance ( ^? rights1 commonly call$   
,s,l,a,p,ps1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,citiz5 ,p>ticipation ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4
 ,f9d+s ,! ,congress f9ds & decl>es t-- 
7#a7 ! fram]s ( our ,con/itution1       
recogniz+ p>ticipation 9 gov]nm5t &     
fre$om ( spee* z inali5able rights      
ess5tial to ! survival ( democracy1     
secur$ _! protection ?r\gh ! ,fir/      
,am5dm5t to ! ,unit$ ,/ates             
,con/itution2  7#b7 ! communications1   
in=mation1 op9ions1 reports1 te/imony1  
claims & argum5ts t individuals1        
organizations & bus9esses provide to !  
gov]nm5t are ess5tial to wise gov]nm5t  

decisions & public policy1 ! public     
heal?1 safety1 & welf>e1 effective law  
en=cem5t1 ! effici5t op]ation ( gov]nm5t
 programs1 ! cr$ibility & tru/ af=d$    
gov]nm5t1 & ! cont9uation ( ,am]ica's   
repres5tative democracy2  7#c7 civil    
lawsuits & c\nt]claims1 (t5 claim+      
millions ( doll>s 9 damages1 h be5 & are
 be+ fil$ aga9/ ?\s&s ( individuals1    
organizations1 & bus9esses bas$ ^u _!   
valid ex]cise ( ! rights to petition or 
free spee*1 includ+ seek+ relief1       
influ5c+ action1 in=m+1 communicat+1 &  
o!rwise p>ticipat+ ) gov]nm5t1 !        
electorate1 or 9 matt]s ( public int]e/2
  7#d7 su* lawsuits1 call$ ,/rategic    
,lawsuits ,aga9/ ,public ,p>ticipation  
or ,s,l,a,p,ps1 are (t5 ultimately      
dismiss$ z gr\ndless or uncon/itutional1
 b n be=e ! def5dants are put to great  
exp5se1 h>assm5t1 & int]ruption ( _!    
productive activities2  7#e7 x is 9 !   
public int]e/ = individuals1            
organizations & bus9esses to p>ticipate 
9 matt]s ( public conc]n & provide      

in=mation to public entities & o!r      
citiz5s on public issues t affect !m )\t
 fe> ( reprisal ?r\gh abuse ( ! judicial
 process2  7#f7 ! ?reat ( f9ancial      
liability1 litigation co/s1 de/ruction (
 "o's bus9ess1 loss ( "o's home1 & o!r  
p]sonal losses f gr\ndless lawsuits     
s]i\sly impacts gov]nm5t1 int]/ate      
comm]ce1 & individual rights by         
significantly *ill+ public p>ticipation 
9 gov]nm5t1 public issues1 & 9 volunt>y 
s]vice2  7#g7 ,s,l,a,p,ps are an abuse (
 ! judicial process t wa/e judicial     
res\rces & clog ! already ov]-burd5$    
c\rt dockets2  7#h7 :ile "s c\rts &     
,/ate legislatures h recogniz$ &        
disc\rag$ ,s,l,a,p,ps1 protection aga9/ 
,s,l,a,p,ps has n be5 uni=m or          
compreh5sive2 &  7#i7 "s ,,slapp victims
 are depriv$ ( ! relief to :i* !y are   
entitl$ because ! curr5t bankruptcy law 
all[s = ! dis*>ge ( fees1 co/s & damages
 aw>d$ aga9/ a p>ty = ma9ta9+ a ,,slapp4
  #c4 ,immunity = petition activity  7a7
 ,immunity ,any act ( petition+ !       

gov]nm5t made )\t k ( falsity or        
reckless disreg>d ( falsity %all be     
immune f civil liability4  7b7 ,burd5 & 
/&>d ( pro( ,a pla9tiff mu/ prove k (   
falsity or reckless disreg>d ( falsity  
by cle> & conv9c+ evid5ce4  #d4         
,protection = petition & spee* activity 
,any act 9 fur!rance ( ! con/itutional  
"r ( petition or free spee* %all be     
entitl$ to ! proc$ural protections      
provid$ 9 ?is ,act4  #e4 ,special motion
 to dismiss  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,a p>ty may   
file a special motion to dismiss any    
claim aris+ f an act or alleg$ act 9    
fur!rance ( ! con/itutional "r (        
petition or free spee* )9 #de days aft] 
s]vice ( ! claim if ! claim 0 fil$ 9    
,f$]al c\rt or1 if ! claim 0 remov$ to  
,f$]al c\rt pursuant to section #f ( ?is
 ,act1 )9 #ae days aft] removal4  7b7   
,burd5s ( ! p>ties ,a p>ty fil+ a       
special motion to dismiss "u ?is ,act   
has ! initial burd5 ( mak+ a prima facie
 %[+ t ! claim at issue arises f an act 
9 fur!rance ( ! con/itutional "r (      

petition or free spee*4 ,if ! mov+ p>ty 
meets ?is burd51 ! burd5 %ifts to !     
respond+ p>ty to demon/rate t ! claim is
 bo? legally suffici5t & support$ by a  
suffici5t prima facie %[+ ( facts to    
su/a9 a favorable judgm5t4  7c7 ,/ay (  
discov]y ,^u ! fil+ ( a special motion  
to dismiss1 discov]y proce$+s 9 ! action
 %all be /ay$ until notice ( entry ( an 
ord] dispos+ ( ! motion1 except t !     
c\rt1 on notic$ motion & = good cause   
%[n1 may ord] t specifi$ discov]y be    
conduct$4  7d7 ,exp$it$ he>+ ,! c\rt    
%all hold an exp$it$ he>+ on ! special  
motion to dismiss1 & issue a rul+ z soon
 z practicable aft] ! he>+4 ,! p>ties   
may submit ! plead+s & affidavits /at+ !
 facts ^u :i* ! liability or def5se is  
bas$4 ,! c\rt %all expla9 ! reasons =   
its grant or d5ial ( ! motion 9 a       
/atem5t = ! record4 ,if ! special motion
 to dismiss is grant$1 dismissal %all be
 ) prejudice4  7e7 ,imm$iate appeal ,!  
def5dant %all h a "r ( imm$iate appeal f
 a di/rict c\rt ord] d5y+ a special     

motion to dismiss 9 :ole or 9 "p4  #f4  
,f$]al removal jurisdiction  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,a civil action comm5c$ 9 a ,/ate 
c\rt aga9/ any p]son :o ass]ts z a      
def5se ! immunity provid$ = 9 section #c
 ( ?is ,act1 or ass]ts t ! action arises
 f an act 9 fur!rance ( ! con/itutional 
"r ( petition or free spee*1 may be     
remov$ by ! def5dant to ! di/rict c\rt (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates = ! di/rict & division 
embrac+ ! place :]e9 x is p5d+4  7b7    
,rem& ( rema9+ claims ,a c\rt ex]cis+   
jurisdiction "u ?is section %all rem&   
any claims aga9/ :i* ! special motion to
 dismiss has be5 d5i$1 z well z any     
rema9+ claims aga9/ :i* a special motion
 to dismiss 0 n br\ght1 to ! ,/ate c\rt 
f :i* x 0 remov$4  7c7 ,tim+ ,a c\rt    
ex]cis+ jurisdiction "u ?is section %all
 rem& an action if a special motion to  
dismiss is n fil$ )9 #ae days aft]      
removal4  #g4 ,special motion to qua%   
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,a p]son ^: p]sonally      
id5tify+ in=mation is s\ght 9 connection
 ) an action p5d+ 9 ,f$]al c\rt aris+ f 

an act 9 fur!rance ( ! con/itutional "r 
( petition or free spee* may make a     
special motion to qua% ! discov]y ord]1 
reque/ or subpo5a4  7b7 ,burd5s ( !     
p>ties ,! p]son br++ a special motion to
 qua% "u ?is section mu/ make a prima   
facie %[+ t ! und]ly+ claim arises f an 
act 9 fur!rance ( ! con/itutional "r (  
petition or free spee*4 ,if ?is burd5 is
 met1 ! burd5 %ifts to ! pla9tiff 9 !   
und]ly+ action to demon/rate t ! und]ly+
 claim is bo? legally suffici5t &       
support$ by a suffici5t prima facie %[+ 
( facts to su/a9 a favorable judgm5t4   
,?is /&>d %all apply only to a special  
motion to qua% br\ght "u ?is section4   
#h4 ,fees & co/s  7a7 ,attorney's fees  
,! c\rt %all aw>d a mov+ p>ty :o        
prevails on a special motion to dismiss 
or qua% ! co/s ( litigation1 includ+ a  
reasonable attorney's fee4  7b7         
,frivol\s motions & removal ,if ! c\rt  
f9ds t a special motion to dismiss1     
special motion to qua%1 or ! removal ( a
 claim "u ?is ,act is frivol\s or is    

solely int5d$ to cause unnecess>y delay1
 ! c\rt may aw>d a reasonable attorney's
 fees & co/s to ! respond+ p>ty4  7c7   
,gov]nm5t entities ,a gov]nm5t entity   
may n recov] fees pursuant to ?is       
section4  #i4 ,bankruptcy               
nondis*>gability ( fees & co/s ,fees or 
co/s aw>d$ aga9/ a p>ty by a c\rt = !   
prosecution ( any claim f9ally dismiss$ 
pursuant to ?is ,act1 or any subpo5a or 
discov]y ord] qua%$ pursuant to ?is     
,act1 or any claim f9ally dismiss$      
pursuant to a ,/ate anti-,,slapp law1   
%all n be dis*>geable 9 bankruptcy "u   
section #acbh or section #ebc ( title   
#aa1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #aj4         
,exemptions  7a7 ,public en=cem5t       
,sections #d ?r\gh #h ( ?is ,act %all n 
be available 9 any action br\ght solely 
on behalf ( ! public or solely to en=ce 
an important "r affect+ ! public int]e/4
  7b7 ,comm]cial spee* ,?is ,act %all n 
apply to any claim = relief br\ght aga9/
 a p]son prim>ily engag$ 9 ! bus9ess (  
sell+ or leas+ goods or s]vices1 if !   

/atem5t or conduct f :i* ! claim arises 
is a repres5tation ( fact made = !      
purpose ( promot+1 secur+ or complet+   
sales or leases (1 or comm]cial         
transactions 91 ! p]son's goods or      
s]vices1 & ! int5d$ audi5ce is an actual
 or pot5tial buy] or cu/om]4  7c7       
,,slapp-,back suits ,?is ,act %all n be 
available to dismiss any action or claim
 aris+ f a claim t has be5 dismiss$     
pursuant to ?is ,act or to a ,/ate      
anti-,,slapp law4  #aa4 ,def9itions ,9  
?is ,act3 7#a7 ,act 9 fur!rance ( ! "r (
 free spee* ,! t]m act 9 fur!rance ( !  
"r ( free spee* includes b is n limit$  
to-- 7,a7 any writt5 or oral /atem5t    
made 9 connection ) an issue "u         
consid]ation or review by a legislative1
 executive1 or judicial body1 or any o!r
 (ficial proce$+ au?oriz$ by law2  7,b7 
any writt5 or oral /atem5t made 9 a     
place op5 to ! public or a public =um 9 
connection ) an issue ( public int]e/2  
or  7,c7 any o!r conduct 9 fur!rance ( !
 ex]cise ( ! con/itutional "r ( petition

 or ! con/itutional "r ( free spee* 9   
connection ) an issue ( public int]e/4  
7#b7 ,act ( petition+ ! gov]nm5t ,! t]m 
act ( petition+ ! gov]nm5t includes b is
 n limit$ to any writt5 or oral         
/atem5t-- 7,a7 made or submitt$ be=e a  
legislative1 executive1 or judicial     
body1 or any o!r (ficial proce$+        
au?oriz$ by law2 or  7,b7 any writt5 or 
oral /atem5t enc\rag+ a /atem5t be=e a  
legislative1 executive1 or judicial     
body1 or any o!r (ficial proce$+        
au?oriz$ by law4  7#c7 ,claim ,! t]m    
claim includes any civil lawsuit1 claim1
 compla9t1 cause ( action1 cross-claim1 
c\nt]claim1 or o!r judicial plead+ or   
fil+ reque/+ relief4  7#d7 ,gov]nm5t    
entity ,! t]m gov]nm5t entity includes !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 a bran*1 dep>tm5t1      
ag5cy1 ,/ate1 or subdivision ( a ,/ate1 
or o!r public au?ority4  7#e7 ,issue (  
public int]e/ ,! t]m issue ( public     
int]e/ includes an issue relat$ to heal?
 or safety2 environm5tal1 economic or   
community well-be+2 ! gov]nm5t2 a public

 figure2 or a good1 product or s]vice 9 
! m>ket place4 ,issue ( public int]e/   
%all n be con/ru$ to include private    
int]e/s1 su* z /atem5ts direct$ prim>ily
 t[>d protect+ ! speak]'s bus9ess       
int]e/s r ?an t[>d comm5t+ on or %>+    
in=mation ab\t a matt] ( public         
significance4  7#f7 ,p]sonally id5tify+ 
in=mation ,! t]m p]sonally id5tify+     
in=mation means fir/ & la/ "n or la/ "n 
only2 home or o!r physical address      
includ+ tempor>y %elt] or h\s+ & includ+
 a /reet "n or ,,zip ,code2 full date ( 
bir?2 email address or o!r onl9e contact
 in=mation2 telephone numb]2 social     
security numb]2 int]net protocol address
 or ho/ "n t id5tifies an individual1 or
 any o!r in=mation t w\ld s]ve to       
id5tify an individual4  7#g7 ,/ate ,!   
t]m ,/ate means ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 !
 ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 & any            
commonweal?1 t]ritory1 or possession ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates4  #ab4 ,con/ruction ,?is 
,act %all be lib]ally con/ru$ to        
effectuate its f9d+s & purposes fully1  

except t ! exemptions %all be con/ru$   
n>r[ly4  #ac4 ,relation%ip to o!r laws  
,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all preempt or sup]s$e
 any ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 con/itutional1 case 
or common law t provides ! equival5t or 
great] protection = p]sons engag+ 9     
activities 9 fur!rance ( ! rights (     
petition or free spee*4  #ad4           
,sev]ability ,if any provision ( ?is    
,act or ! application ( any provision ( 
?is ,act to any p]son or circum/ance is 
held invalid1 ! application ( su*       
provision to o!r p]sons or circum/ances 
& ! rema9d] ( ?is ,act %all n be affect$
 !reby4  #ae4 ,effective date ,?is ,act 
%all become effective ^u enactm5t4