,i  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hhfd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #ae1 #bjbb  
,mr4 ,rask9 7= himself & ,mr4 ,coh57    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill 
,to am5d title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1
 to e/abli% a proc$ure to dismiss1      
puni%1 & det] /rategic lawsuits aga9/   
public p>ticipation1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
,/rategic ,lawsuits ,aga9/ ,public      
,p>ticipation ,protection ,act ( #bjbb  
or ! ,,slapp ,protection ,act ( #bjbb4  
#b4 ,measures to end /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 ,proc$ure to  
,dismiss1 ,puni%1 & ,det] ,/rategic     
,lawsuits ,aga9/ ,public ,p>ticipation  
,sec4 #dbja4 ,special motion to dismiss 
a ,/rategic ,lawsuit ,aga9/ ,public     
,p>ticipation4 #dbjb4 ,exceptions4      
#dbjc4 ,fees4 #dbjd4 ,*oice ( law4      

#dbje4 ,def9itions4  #dbja4 ,special    
motion to dismiss a ,/rategic ,lawsuit  
,aga9/ ,public ,p>ticipation  7a7       
,notice p]iod ,n lat] ?an five days be=e
 ! fil+ ( a special motion to dismiss a 
claim alleg$ to be a /rategic lawsuit   
aga9/ public p>ticipation "u ?is *apt]1 
! mov+ p>ty %all provide writt5 notice  
to ! respond+ p>ty ( its int5t to file  
su* a special motion to dismiss )       
respect to a claim4 ,until ! mov+ p>ty  
has fil$ a special motion to dismiss1 ! 
respond+ p>ty may )draw or am5d ! claim 
9 accordance ) applicable c\rt rules4   
7b7 ,tim+ ( motion  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a    
special motion to dismiss pursuant to   
?is *apt] %all be fil$ n lat] ?an ! date
 t is ! lat] ( ! foll[+3  7,a7 #fj days 
aft] ! date ( s]vice ( ! plead+ t /ates 
! claim alleg$ to be a ,,slapp4  7,b7   
#fj days aft] ! date ( removal ( ! case 
to ,f$]al c\rt4  7#b7 ,good cause ,^u   
motion by ei!r p>ty & = good cause1 !   
c\rt may ext5d ! p]iod describ$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a74  7c7 ,/ay ( proce$+s     

7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ "u      
p>agraph 7#b71 ^u ! fil+ ( a special    
motion to dismiss "u ?is *apt]1 all o!r 
proce$+s betwe5 ! mov+ p>ty & respond+  
p>ty t are relat$ to ! claim1 includ+   
discov]y proce$+s & any p5d+ he>+ or    
motions1 %all be /ay$ until notice (    
entry ( an ord] dispos+ ( ! special     
motion to dismiss4  7#b7 ,exceptions    
7,a7 ,good cause ,^u motion by ei!r     
p>ty1 ! c\rt may all[ limit$ & specifi$ 
discov]y relat$ to ! motion1 z det]m9$  
by ! c\rt1 = good cause4  7,b7 ,motion =
 rem& ,proce$+s relat+ to a motion to   
rem& fil$ pursuant to section #addg may 
proce$ p5d+ consid]ation by ! c\rt ( !  
special motion to dismiss4  7d7         
,consid]ation ( motion ,! c\rt %all     
grant ! special motion to dismiss &     
dismiss ! claim ) prejudice if-- 7#a7 ! 
mov+ p>ty pres5ts evid5ce e/abli%+ t !  
claim at issue is bas$ on1 or 9 response
 to1 ! p>ty's lawful ex]cise ( !        
con/itutional "r ( petition1 fre$om ( ! 
press1 peaceful assembly1 free spee* on 

a matt] ( public conc]n1 or o!r         
expressive conduct on a matt] ( public  
conc]n2  7#b7 ! respond+ p>ty fails to  
e/abli% t an exception "u section #dbjb 
applies2 &  7#c7 ei!r--  7,a7 ! respond+
 p>ty fails to pres5t evid5ce e/abli%+ a
 prima facie case z to ea* ess5tial     
elem5t ( ! claim "u ! /&>d ( ,f$]al     
,rule ( ,civil ,proc$ure #ef2 or  7,b7 !
 respond+ p>ty has pres5t$ evid5ce      
e/abli%+ a prima facie case z to ea*    
elem5t ( ! claim "u subp>agraph 7,a71 b 
! mov+ p>ty has e/abli%$ t !re is no    
g5u9e issue ( mat]ial fact & ! p>ty is  
entitl$ to judgm5t z a matt] ( law on ! 
claim or compla9t "u ! /&>d ( ,f$]al    
,rule ( ,civil ,proc$ure #ef4  7e7      
,exp$it$ rul+ ,! c\rt %all rule on a    
special motion to dismiss n lat] ?an #ij
 days aft] ! date on :i* ! motion is    
fil$1 unless ! c\rt det]m9es t docket   
condition1 any specifi$ discov]y1 or o!r
 good cause requires a rul+ at a lat]   
date4  #dbjb4 ,exceptions  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,except z provid$ "u subsection 7b71 ?is

 *apt] %all n apply to any claim t is   
br\ght--  7#a7 aga9/ a p]son prim>ily   
engag$ 9 ! bus9ess ( sell+ or leas+     
comm]cial goods or s]vices if !         
communication on :i* ! claim is bas$    
arises out ( ! p]son's sale or lease (  
comm]cial goods or s]vices2  7#b7 by a  
gov]nm5t (ficial or entity act+ 9 an    
(ficial capacity or "u color ( law1 or  
aga9/ a gov]nm5t (ficial or entity su$ 9
 an (ficial or individual capacity or "u
 color ( law = acts or omissions        
conduct$ on behalf ( a gov]nm5t entity2 
7#c7 "u ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local civil   
rights /atute or ord9ance1 or to en=ce  
su* a /atute or ord9ance2  7#d7 =       
recov]y = bodily injury1 wrongful dea?1 
or survival damages2  7#e7 by a         
:i/lebl[] "u a ,f$]al or ,/ate :i/lebl[]
 /atute1 includ+ any claim br\ght "u !  
section #cgbi1 #cgcj1 #cgca1 #cgcb1 or  
#cgcc ( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 
7#f7 "u ! citiz5 suit provision ( a     
,f$]al or ,/ate environm5tal protection 
/atute2  7#g7 by a consum] 9 a private  

en=cem5t action "u a ,/ate unfair trade 
& deceptive practices /atute2  7#h7 by a
 cu/om] or employee alleg+ misuse ( t   
individual's p]sonal in=mation 9        
violation ( a ,f$]al or ,/ate data      
protection /atute2  7#i7 "u !           
,securities & ,ex*ange ,act ( #aicd1 !  
,securities ,act ( #aicc1 or a ,/ate    
securities laws2  7#aj7 9 response to a 
civil action br\ght by a %>ehold] on    
behalf ( a corporation2 or  7#aa7 = an  
alleg$ violation ( antitru/ laws 7z     
def9$ by section #a7;a7 ( ! ,clayton    
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #ab7;a777 or a ,/ate
 antitru/ law4  7b7 ,c]ta9 additional   
exceptions ,?is *apt] may apply to a    
claim ass]t$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 7#d71    
7#g71 or 7#h7 ( subsection 7a7 if !     
claim is br\ght aga9/--  7#a7 any       
publi%]1 editor1 report]1 or o!r p]son  
:o is or 0 connect$ ) or employ$ by a   
radio /ation1 television /ation1        
newspap]1 magaz9e1 int]net-bas$         
publication1 or o!r p]iodical           
publication1 or by a press association  

or wire s]vice1 if ! p]son aga9/ :om !  
claim 0 ass]t$ 0 act+ ) respect to su*  
connection or employm5t2 or  7#b7 any   
p]son or entity bas$ on ! p]son's or    
entity's creation1 dissem9ation1        
exhibition1 adv]tisem5t1 or o!r simil>  
promotion ( any dramatic1 lit]>y1       
musical1 political1 j\rnali/ic1 or      
arti/ic "w4  #dbjc4 ,fees  7a7          
,attorney's fees & co/s ,if ! mov+ p>ty 
prevails on ! special motion to dismiss1
 !re %all be a rebuttable presumption t 
! mov+ p>ty is entitl$ to an aw>d (     
reasonable attorneys' fees & co/s4 ,su* 
a presumption c be rebutt$ by a %[+ t   
su* an aw>d w\ld be unreasonable or t   
special circum/ances exi/ t w\ld make   
su* an aw>d unju/1 z det]m9$ by ! c\rt4 
7b7 ,prevail+ p>ty ,= ! purposes (      
subsection 7a71 ! mov+ p>ty is consid]$ 
to h prevail$ on ! special motion to    
dismiss if ! c\rt grants ! special      
motion to dismiss "u section #dbja7;d71 
& if ! respond+ p>ty did n am5d or )draw
 ! claim until aft] ! end ( ! #e-;day   

notice p]iod set =? 9 section #dbja7;a74
  7c7 ,bad fai? fil+s ,if a c\rt f9ds t 
a special motion to dismiss 0 fil$ 9 bad
 fai? & solely int5d$ to cause delay1   
!re %all be a rebuttable presumption t !
 respond+ p>ty is entitl$ to an aw>d (  
reasonable attorneys' fees & co/s       
incurr$ 9 respond+ to ! special motion  
to dismiss4 ,su* a presumption c be     
rebutt$ by a %[+ t su* an aw>d w\ld be  
unreasonable or t special circum/ances  
exi/ t w\ld make su* an aw>d unju/1 z   
det]m9$ by ! c\rt4  #dbjd4 ,*oice ( law 
,except z provid$ = 9 ?is *apt]1 no?+ 9 
?is *apt] %all r$uce or limit any       
sub/antive claim1 rem$y1 or def5se to a 
,,slapp "u any o!r ,f$]al law or "u !   
laws ( any ,/ate or locality4  #dbje4   
,def9itions ,9 ?is *apt]3 7#a7 ,/rategic
 lawsuit aga9/ public p>ticipation2     
,,slapp ,! t]m /rategic lawsuit aga9/   
public p>ticipation or ,,slapp means !  
use ( ! c\rt sy/em to sil5ce or         
intimidate a p>ty :o is engag$ 9 !      
lawful ex]cise ( ! con/itutional "r (   

petition1 fre$om ( ! press1 peaceful    
assembly1 free spee* on a matt] ( public
 conc]n1 or o!r expressive conduct on a 
matt] ( public conc]n1 by subject+ t    
p>ty to m]itless litigation4  7#b7      
,claim ,! t]m claim means any civil     
action1 compla9t1 cause ( action1       
c\nt]claim1 or o!r c\rt fil+ seek+      
damages1 decl>atory relief1 or equitable
 relief4  7#c7 ,matt] ( public conc]n ,!
 t]m matt] ( public conc]n means any    
communication or expressive conduct     
und]tak5 ) ! purpose (--  7,a7          
p>ticipat+ 9 or seek+ to influ5ce a     
legislative1 executive1 judicial        
proce$+1 or o!r proce$+ au?oriz$ by law2
  7,b7 comm5t+ on an issue "u           
consid]ation or review1 or recomm5d+    
consid]ation ( an issue1 by a           
legislative1 executive1 or judicial     
body2  7,c7 rais+ a conc]n or compla9t )
 a law en=cem5t ag5cy1 lic5s+ bo>d1 or  
grievance me*anism creat$ "u a ,f$]al1  
,/ate1 or local anti-discrim9ation      
/atute or ord9ance2 or  7,d7 comm5t+    

ab\t a public (ficial1 public figure1 or
 o!r natural or legal p]son ^: act1     
omission1 fame1 notoriety1 or celebrity 
has become a public issue4  7#d7        
,gov]nm5t entity ,! t]m gov]nm5t entity 
means ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 a  
gov]nm5t corporation1 bran*1 dep>tm5t1  
ag5cy1 ,/ate1 or subdivision ( a ,/ate  
or a f$]ally or ,/ate recogniz$ ,tribe4 
7#e7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate means ea* ( !   
sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 &
 any commonweal?1 t]ritory1 or          
possession ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  4  7b7   
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( *apt]s =    
title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by add+ aft] *apt] #aha ! foll[+3      
#ahb4 ,proc$ure to ,dismiss1 ,puni%1 &  
,det] ,/rategic ,lawsuits ,aga9/ ,public
 ,p>ticipation4  4  #c4 ,rule (         
con/ruction ,?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts made 
by ?is ,act %all be broadly con/ru$ &   
appli$ to protect ! ex]cise ( !         
con/itutional "r ( petition1 fre$om ( ! 
press1 peaceful assembly1 free spee* on 
a matt] ( public conc]n1 & o!r protect$ 

expressive conduct on a matt] ( public  
conc]n4  #d4 ,effective date2           
applicability ,?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts    
made by ?is ,act %all take effect on !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act & apply to 
any action fil$ on or aft] ! date ( !   
enactm5t ( ?is ,act reg>dless ( :e!r !  
conduct at issue occurr$ prior to ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4