,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cihc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #d1 #bjbf,mrs4    
,%ahe5 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,cassidy7       
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$ure to dismiss /rategic lawsuits   
aga9/ public p>ticipation br\ght by     
gov]nm5ts1 ag5ts1 in/rum5talities1 &    
entities ( =eign adv]s>ies & o!r        
c\ntries t h engag$ 9 a patt]n (        
frivol\s litigation aga9/ ,unit$ ,/ates 
p]sons int5d$ to det] ! free ex]cise (  
rights "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !         
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,end ,=eign ,abuse ( ,unit$
 ,/ates ,c\rts ,act4  #b4 ,measures to  
end /rategic lawsuits aga9/ public      
p>ticipation br\ght by c]ta9 =eign      
actors  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,"p ,,vi ( title   
#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
ins]t+ aft] *apt] #aha ! foll[+3  #ahb  

,proc$ure to dismiss /rategic lawsuits  
aga9/ public p>ticipation br\ght by     
c]ta9 =eign actors  ,sec4#dbja4         
,def9itions4#dbjb4 ,special motion to   
dismiss a /rategic lawsuit aga9/ public 
p>ticipation br\ght by c]ta9 =eign      
actors4#dbjc4 ,exceptions4#dbjd4        
,int]locutory appeal4#dbje4 ,attorneys' 
fees & co/s2 punitive damages4#dbjf4 ,no
 limit on o!r rem$ies4#dbjg4 ,removal & 
rem&4  #dbja4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is *apt]3 
7#a7 ,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#b7 ,cov]$ claim ,! t]m cov]$
 claim means a claim-- 7,a7 br\ght by-- 
7i7 ! gov]nm5t ( a cov]$ c\ntry2  7ii7 a
 =eign ag5t or =eign in/rum5tality ( !  
gov]nm5t ( a cov]$ c\ntry2 or  7iii7 a  
cov]$ =eign p]son2 &  7,b7 t is bas$ on1
 or 9 response to-- 7i7 a political     
op9ion ( a p>ty2 or  7ii7 cov]$ protect$
 spee* or political activity by a p>ty4 
7#c7 ,cov]$ c\ntry ,! t]m cov]$ c\ntry  

means-- 7,a7 a c\ntry ! gov]nm5t ( :i*  
is li/$ z a =eign adv]s>y "u section    
#gia4d ( title #ae1 ,code ( ,f$]al      
,regulations1 or any successor          
regulation2 or  7,b7 a c\ntry ! gov]nm5t
 or citiz5s ( :i* h be5 det]m9$ by !    
,secret>y ( ,/ate to h engag$ 9 a patt]n
 ( frivol\s litigation aga9/ p 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates t is int5d$ to det] ! free
 ex]cise ( rights "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to
 ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#d7
 ,cov]$ =eign p]son ,! t]m cov]$ =eign  
p]son means-- 7,a7 an individual :o--   
7i7 is a citiz5 ( a cov]$ c\ntry1 :i*   
%all be det]m9$ 9 ! same mann] z        
citiz5%ip is det]m9$ = purposes (       
section #accb2 &  7ii7 is n lawfully    
admitt$ = p]man5t resid5ce1 & domicil$1 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or  7,b7 a           
corporation1 p>tn]%ip1 association1     
jo9t-/ock company1 limit$ liability     
company1 bus9ess tru/1 or simil> entity 
t is sub/antially own$ by or subject to 
! control ( #a or m individuals describ$
 9 subp>agraph 7,a74  7#e7 ,cov]$       

protect$ spee* or political activity ,! 
t]m cov]$ protect$ spee* or political   
activity means-- 7,a7 a communication 9 
a legislative1 executive1 judicial1     
adm9i/rative1 or o!r gov]nm5tal proce$+ 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates or a =eign c\ntry2    
7,b7 a communication on an issue "u     
consid]ation or review1 or recomm5d+    
consid]ation ( an issue1 9 a            
legislative1 executive1 judicial1       
adm9i/rative1 or o!r gov]nm5tal proce$+ 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates or a =eign c\ntry2    
7,c7 a compla9t made to a law en=cem5t  
ag5cy1 to a lic5s+ bo>d1 or ?r\gh a     
grievance me*anism 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates or 
a =eign c\ntry2  7,d7 a communication   
ab\t a public (ficial1 public figure1 or
 o!r natural or legal p]son ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates or a =eign c\ntry ^: act1        
omission1 fame1 notoriety1 or celebrity 
has become a public issue2 or  7,e7 !   
ex]cise ( ! "r ( fre$om ( spee* or ( !  
press1 ! "r to assemble or petition1 or 
! "r ( association gu>ante$ by !        
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates on a     

matt] ( public conc]n4  7#f7 ,=eign     
ag5t2 =eign in/rum5tality ,! t]ms =eign 
ag5t & =eign in/rum5tality h ! mean+s   
giv5 ^? t]ms 9 section #ahci ( title    
#ah4  7#g7 ,political op9ion ,! t]m     
political op9ion-- 7,a7 means !         
manife/ation or expression1 ei!r ov]t or
 imput$1 ( political beliefs2 &  7,b7   
%all h ! same mean+ giv5 ! t]m political
 op9ion = purposes ( section            
#aja7;a77#db7 ( ! ,immigration &        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaja7;a77#db774  #dbjb4 ,special motion
 to dismiss a /rategic lawsuit aga9/    
public p>ticipation br\ght by c]ta9     
=eign actors  7a7 ,motion ,a c\rt %all  
grant a special motion to dismiss &     
dismiss a claim ) prejudice if-- 7#a7 ! 
mov+ p>ty pres5ts evid5ce e/abli%+ t !  
claim at issue is a cov]$ claim2  7#b7 !
 respond+ p>ty fails to e/abli% t an    
exception "u section #dbjc applies2 &   
7#c7 ! respond+ p>ty-- 7,a7 fails to    
pres5t evid5ce e/abli%+ a prima facie   
case z to ea* ess5tial elem5t ( ! claim 

"u ! /&>d ( rule #ef ( ! ,f$]al ,rules (
 ,civil ,proc$ure2 or  7,b7 pres5ts     
evid5ce e/abli%+ a prima facie case z to
 ea* elem5t ( ! claim1 b ! mov+ p>ty has
 e/abli%$ t !re is no g5u9e issue (     
mat]ial fact & ! mov+ p>ty is entitl$ to
 judgm5t z a matt] ( law on ! claim "u !
 /&>d ( rule #ef ( ! ,f$]al ,rules (    
,civil ,proc$ure4  7b7 ,notice p]iod ,n 
lat] ?an #e days be=e ! fil+ ( a special
 motion to dismiss a claim alleg$ to be 
a cov]$ claim1 ! mov+ p>ty %all provide 
writt5 notice to ! respond+ p>ty ( !    
int5t ( ! mov+ p>ty to file su* a       
special motion to dismiss ) respect to !
 claim4  7c7 ,tim+ ( motion ,a special  
motion to dismiss pursuant to ?is *apt] 
%all be fil$ n lat] ?an-- 7#a7 = a claim
 fil$ 9 ,f$]al c\rt1 #fj days aft] !    
date ( s]vice ( ! plead+ t /ates ! claim
 alleg$ to be a cov]$ claim2 or  7#b7 = 
a claim remov$ to ,f$]al c\rt t is      
alleg$ to be a cov]$ claim1 #fj days    
aft] ! date ( removal4  7d7 ,/ay (      
proce$+s  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z       

provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 ^u ! fil+ ( a  
special motion to dismiss "u ?is *apt] )
 respect to a claim1 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 a special motion to dismiss "u
 ?is *apt]1 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  7e7 ,exp$it$ rul+ ,n
 lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* a 
special motion to dismiss "u ?is *apt]  
is fil$ ) respect to a claim1 ! c\rt    
%all rule on ! motion4  #dbjc4          
,exceptions ,?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 an (ficial1 ag5t1 or  
entity ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t act+ 
9 an (ficial capacity or "u color ( law2
 or  7#c7 = recov]y = bodily injury1    
wrongful dea?1 or survival damages4     
#dbjd4 ,int]locutory appeal ,if a c\rt  
d5ies a special motion to dismiss "u ?is
 *apt] ) respect to a claim1 ! p>ty t   
fil$ ! special motion to dismiss may    
take an imm$iate int]locutory appeal f !
 ord] d5y+ ! special motion to dismiss4 
#dbje4 ,attorneys' fees & co/s2 punitive
 damages  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,if ! mov+ p>ty  
prevails on a special motion to dismiss 
"u ?is *apt]1 !re %all be a rebuttable  
presumption t ! mov+ p>ty is entitl$ to 
an aw>d ( reasonable attorneys' fees &  
co/s4  7b7 ,punitive damages ,if ! mov+ 
p>ty prevails on a special motion to    
dismiss "u ?is *apt] & ! c\rt det]m9es t
 ! claim 0 pres5t$ to h>ass1 cause      

unnecess>y delay1 or ne$lessly increase 
! co/ ( litigation1 ! c\rt may impose an
 aw>d ( punitive damages4 ,any aw>d (   
punitive damages "u ?is subsection %all 
be limit$ to :at suffices to det]       
repetition ( ! conduct or comp>able     
conduct by o!rs simil>ly situat$4  7c7  
,no =eign-,/ate immunity ,a =eign /ate  
%all n be immune f fees1 co/s1 or       
punitive damages impos$ "u ?is *apt]4   
#dbjf4 ,no limit on o!r rem$ies ,no?+ 9 
?is *apt] %all be con/ru$ to r$uce or   
limit any sub/antive claim1 rem$y1 or   
def5se to a claim bas$ on1 or 9 response
 to1 cov]$ protect$ spee* or political  
activity by a p>ty "u any o!r ,f$]al law
 or "u ! laws ( any ,/ate or local      
gov]nm5t4  #dbjg4 ,removal & rem&  7a7  
,9 g5]al ,9 addition to removal all[$ "u
 section #adda1 a def5dant fil+ a       
colorable special motion to dismiss "u  
section #dbjb may remove ! case to !    
di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = !      
di/rict & division )9 :i* su* action is 
p5d+1 )\t reg>d to :e!r ! p>ty is a     

citiz5 ( ! ,/ate 9 :i* ! action is      
br\ght or :e!r ! def5se "u ?is *apt]    
appe>s ^u ! face ( ! well-plead$        
compla9t1 aft] fil+ a notice ( removal  
sign$ pursuant to rule #aa ( ! ,f$]al   
,rules ( ,civil ,proc$ure4  7b7 ,d5ial  
,if an action is remov$ "u ?is section &
 ! di/rict c\rt to :i* ! action is      
remov$ has d5i$ 9 :ole a special motion 
to dismiss "u section #dbjb1 ! c\rt %all
 rem& ! action to ! ,/ate c\rt f :i* !  
action _h be5 remov$4  4  7b7 ,te*nical 
& con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7 ,section        
#abib7;a7 ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 
by /rik+ ! semicolon at ! end & ins]t+ a
 p]iod2  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ 
! semicolon at ! end & ins]t+ a p]iod2 &
  7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7 
,int]locutory ord]s d5y+ 9 :ole or 9 "p 
special motions to dismiss "u section   
#dbjb4  4  7#b7 ,! table ( *apt]s =     
title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to *apt]  
#aha ! foll[+3  #ahb4,proc$ure to       

dismiss /rategic lawsuits aga9/ public  
p>ticipation br\ght by c]ta9 =eign      
actors#dbja  4  #c4 ,effective date2    
applicability ,?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts    
made by ?is ,act %all-- 7#a7 take effect
 on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &   
7#b7 apply to any claim fil$ on or aft] 
! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act reg>dless
 ( :e!r ! conduct at issue occurr$ prior
 to ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4