Bill > SB180

This bill modifies Oregon's legal procedures for defamation claims, specifically providing additional protections for individuals who speak out about sexual assault. The bill adds a new provision that when someone makes a communication about a sexual assault incident, the defamation claim against them can only succeed if the plaintiff can prove the communication was made with malice. Additionally, the bill expands existing special motion to strike procedures to include statements about sexual assault, allowing defendants to seek early dismissal of defamation claims if they can show they made the statement in good faith and with a reasonable belief that the sexual assault occurred. The bill amends the existing legal standard for such motions, creating a two-step burden-shifting process where the defendant first shows the statement falls under protected categories, and then the plaintiff must prove both a probability of prevailing in the claim and that the defendant acted with malice. This change aims to protect individuals who speak out about sexual assault from potentially retaliatory defamation lawsuits, while still maintaining a pathway for legitimate defamation claims.