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• Introduced by Rep. Kate Ebli (D) on June 3, 2009, to prohibit strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP suits), which are filed against a person who communicates with a governmental unit, public official, or other person to seek relief, influence action, inform, communicate, and otherwise participate in the process of government.
  • Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on June 3, 2009.
    • Reported in the House on March 2, 2010, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on June 15, 2010.
    • Reported in the House on July 21, 2010, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on August 19, 2010, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises it to encompass suits like a widely reported one by a towing company against a college student who complained on university discussion site about its actions, and to clarify when a court must dismiss a SLAPP suit or has discretion. This version was subsequently superseded by another substitute with detail changes. The substitute failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R) on August 19, 2010, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that narrows the proposed ban to suits trying to stop communications on zoning law issues. The substitute failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. Kate Ebli (D) on August 19, 2010, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the committee substitute as described above. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on August 19, 2010, to cap potential sanctions imposed on the plaintiff or attorney pursuing a dismissed SLAPP suit at $250,000. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on August 19, 2010, to strip out a provision that awards triple damages to the target of a dismissed SLAPP suit. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on August 19, 2010, to strip out a provision authorizing punitive damages for the plaintiff and attorney in a dismissed SLAPP suit. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on August 19, 2010, to cap at $250,000 a provision authorizing punitive damages for the plaintiff and attorney in a dismissed SLAPP suit. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on August 19, 2010, to essentially insert into the bill the provisions of House Bills 6073 and 6363, which prohibit considering an expression of an expression of sympathy, compassion, commiseration, or a general sense of benevolence with regard to the pain, suffering, or death of an individual as evidence of liability in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on August 19, 2010.
• Passed 68 to 34 in the House on August 19, 2010.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on August 24, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on August 24, 2010.