Bill > H1627

This bill aims to strengthen Massachusetts' Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) law by providing robust protections for citizens and organizations exercising their constitutional rights to free speech, expression, and petition. The bill revises Section 59H of Chapter 231 to create a more comprehensive legal mechanism for quickly dismissing lawsuits that appear designed to intimidate or silence individuals speaking on matters of public concern. Under the new provisions, a party can file a special motion to dismiss claims that are based on their protected speech activities, and the court must grant this motion unless the opposing party can prove that the speech was without reasonable factual support and caused actual injury. The bill allows for expedited court hearings, stays discovery proceedings upon filing the motion, and mandates that if the motion is successful, the moving party will be awarded all costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The legislation broadly defines protected speech to include statements about goods, products, services, or any topic of public interest, whether communicated in-person or through any media. The bill's purpose is explicitly stated as countering the "disturbing increase" in lawsuits intended to chill valid exercises of First Amendment rights, with the goal of resolving such legal challenges quickly and with minimal cost to those speaking out.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1627