,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #edch  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #e1 #bjbd ,mr4
 ,wyd5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !
 ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title   
#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to e/abli% a  
proc$ure to dismiss & det] /rategic     
lawsuits aga9/ public p>ticipation1 & = 
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,free ,spee*           
,protection ,act4  #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 dismiss & det]
 /rategic lawsuits aga9/ public         
p>ticipation  ,sec4 #dbja4 ,def9itions4 
#dbjb4 ,special motion to dismiss a     
/rategic lawsuit aga9/ public           
p>ticipation4 #dbjc4 ,exceptions4 #dbjd4
 ,fees4 #dbje4 ,pres]vation ( rights4   
#dbja4 ,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 ! con/itutional ex]cise ( "o or m ( !
 acts describ$ 9 section #dbjb7;c77#b71 
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 relief1 includ+ any individual
 causes ( action4  7#c7 ,matt] ( public 
conc]n ,! t]m matt] ( public conc]n     
means an issue t--  7,a7 c be fairly    
consid]$ z relat+ to any matt] (        
political1 social1 heal? or safety1 or  
o!r conc]n to ! community2  7,b7 is (   
legitimate news int]e/2 or  7,c7 is a   
subject ( g5]al int]e/ & ( value &      
conc]n to ! public4  7#d7 ,gov]nm5t     
entity ,! t]m gov]nm5t entity means--   
7,a7 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2     
7,b7 a ,/ate or subdivision ( a ,/ate1  
includ+ a c\nty or municipality2  7,c7 a

 ,f$]al or ,/ate gov]nm5t corporation1  
bran*1 dep>tm5t1 or ag5cy2  7,d7 a      
public in/itution2 or  7,e7 a f$]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  #dbjb4 ,special motion 
to dismiss a /rategic lawsuit aga9/     
public p>ticipation  7a7 ,special motion
 ,to dismiss  7#a7 ,notice ( int5t to   
file ,n lat] ?an #e 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 ,! mov+ p>ty may n file a       
special motion to dismiss until ! day   
aft] ! expiration ( ! #e-;day p]iod1    
be=e :i* ! respond+ p>ty may )draw or   
am5d ! claim 9 accordance ) applicable  
c\rt rules4  7#b7 ,fil+ ,a special      
motion to dismiss pursuant to ?is *apt] 

%all be fil$ n lat] ?an ! date t is !   
lat] (--  7,a7 #fj days aft] ! date (   
s]vice ( ! plead+ t /ates ! claim alleg$
 to be a ,,slapp2 or  7,b7 #fj days aft]
 ! date ( removal ( ! case to ,f$]al    
c\rt4  7#c7 ,good cause ,^u motion by   
ei!r p>ty & = good cause1 ! c\rt may    
ext5d ! p]iod describ$ "u p>agraph 7#b74
  7b7 ,/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 ,/ay
 involv+ ano!r p>ty ,on motion by ! mov+
 p>ty1 ! c\rt may /ay a he>+ or motion  
involv+ ano!r p>ty1 or discov]y by ano!r
 p>ty1 if ! he>+ or motion w\ld         
adjudicate1 or ! discov]y w\ld relate   
to1 an issue mat]ial to ! motion "u ?is 
section4  7#c7 ,exceptions  7,a7 ,limit$
 discov]y ,^u motion by ei!r p>ty1 !    

c\rt may all[ limit$ discov]y relat$ to 
! motion if a p>ty %[s t specific       
in=mation is necess>y to e/abli% :e!r a 
p>ty has satisfi$ or fail$ to satisfy a 
burd5 "u subsection 7c7 & ! in=mation is
 n reasonably available unless discov]y 
is all[$4 ,! c\rt may n all[ discov]y ( 
in=mation ab\t ! confid5tial s\rces ( a 
report] or "w product1 or any o!r       
in=mation t is privileg$ "u ,/ate or    
,f$]al law4  7,b7 ,motion = rem&        
,proce$+s relat+ to a motion to rem&    
fil$ pursuant to section #addg may      
proce$ p5d+ consid]ation by ! c\rt ( !  
special motion to dismiss4  7c7         
,consid]ation ( motion ,! c\rt %all     
grant ! special motion to dismiss &     
dismiss ! claim ) prejudice if--  7#a7 !
 respond+ p>ty fails to e/abli% t an    
exception "u section #dbjc applies2     
7#b7 ! mov+ p>ty pres5ts evid5ce        
e/abli%+ t ! claim at issue is bas$ on1 
or 9 response to1 ! p>ty's--  7,a7      
ex]cise ( a con/itutional "r 9 a        
legislative1 executive1 judicial1       

adm9i/rative1 or o!r gov]nm5tal proce$+2
  7,b7 ex]cise ( a con/itutional "r to  
communicate on an issue "u consid]ation 
or review 9 a legislative1 executive1   
judicial1 adm9i/rative1 or o!r          
gov]nm5tal proce$+2 or  7,c7 ex]cise ( !
 con/itutional "r ( fre$om ( spee* or ( 
! press1 ! "r to assemble or petition1  
or ! "r ( association1 on a matt] (     
public conc]n2 &  7#c7 7,a7 ! respond+  
p>ty fails to pres5t evid5ce e/abli%+ a 
prima facie case reg>d+ ea* elem5t ( !  
claim2 or  7,b7 ! mov+ p>ty e/abli%es   
t-- 7i7 ! respond+ p>ty fail$ to /ate a 
claim ^u :i* relief c be grant$2 or     
7ii7 !re is no g5u9e issue ( mat]ial    
fact & ! mov+ p>ty is entitl$ to judgm5t
 z a matt] ( law on ! claim4  7d7 ,no   
requirem5t = mov+ p>ty ,to demon/rate   
int5t ,! mov+ p>ty does n ne$ to        
demon/rate ! respond+ p>ty's int5t to   
sil5ce or intimidate ! mov+ p>ty 9 ord] 
to prevail on ! motion4  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$1    
unless ! c\rt det]m9es t docket         
conditions1 any specifi$ discov]y1 or   
o!r good cause requires a rul+ at a lat]
 date4  #dbjc4 ,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 ! claim   
arises out ( ! p]son's sale1 lease1 or  
repres5tation ( 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 = acts or omissions 
conduct$ on behalf ( a gov]nm5t entity  
or "u color ( law2  7#c7 "u ! citiz5    
suit provision ( a ,f$]al or /ate       
/atute2  7#d7 "u ! ,securities &        
,ex*ange ,act ( #aicd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4    
#gh;a et seq471 ! ,securities ,act (    
#aicc 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gg;a et seq471 or 
a ,/ate securities law & bas$ on fil+s  

or communications ) gov]nm5t regulatory 
ag5cies2  7#e7 = recov]y = wrongful     
dea?1 except = a claim aris+ solely out 
( a con/itutional "r ( a mov+ p>ty li/$ 
9 section #dbjb7;c77#b72  7#f7 by an    
employee aga9/ t individual's employ] or
 =m] employ] = an issue aris+ f !       
employm5t relation%ip2 or  7#g7 by a    
:i/lebl[] "u a ,f$]al or ,/ate :i/lebl[]
 /atute1 includ+ any claim br\ght "u !  
section #cgbi1 #cgcj1 #cgca1 #cgcb1 or  
#cgcc ( title #ca4  7b7 ,limitations on 
exceptions ,?is *apt] %all apply to a   
claim ass]t$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 7#b71    
7#c71 7#d71 or 7#e7 ( 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 j\rnali/ic1 or arti/ic "w4     
#dbjd4 ,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 may 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 
,! mov+ p>ty does n ne$ to demon/rate ! 
respond+ p>ty's int5t to sil5ce or      
intimidate ! mov+ p>ty or o!r speak]s to
 be entitl$ to su* an aw>d4  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 #dbjb7;d7  
or ! respond+ p>ty volunt>ily )draws !  

claim aft] ! motion is fil$ consi/5t )  
section #dbjb7;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 may 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  #dbje4 ,pres]vation ( rights  7a7
 ,sav+s clause 8,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$]al  
law or "u ! laws ( any ,/ate or         
locality4  7b7 ,sanctions & aw>d (      
exp5ses ,no?+ 9 ?is *apt] %all preclude 
! p>ties f seek+ sanctions or an aw>d ( 
exp5ses "u rule #aa ( ! ,f$]al ,rules ( 
,civil ,proc$ure4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical      
am5dm5t ,! table ( *apt]s = title #bh1  

,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+   
aft] *apt] #aha ! foll[+3  #ahb4        
,proc$ure to dismiss & det] /rategic    
lawsuits aga9/ public p>ticipation#dbja 
4  #c4 ,rule ( con/ruction ,?is ,act & !
 am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act %all be      
broadly con/ru$ & appli$ to protect !   
ex]cise ( rights "u ! ,u4,s4            
,con/itution4  #d4 ,effective date2     
applicability ,?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts    
made by ?is ,act %all take effect on !  
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act & %all apply 
to any application = dismissal ( a      
,,slapp1 z def9$ 9 section #dbja ( title
 #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by    
section #b ( ?is ,act1 fil$ on or aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4