BOISE, ID – The Idaho House of Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a bill that the sponsors say protects public participation and freedom of speech from frivolous lawsuits.

Without any debate in opposition, the Idaho House voted 70-0 to pass Senate Bill 1001. The bill is designed to combat frivolous strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPP lawsuits.

If the bill becomes law, people who are subject to such lawsuits could file a new anti-SLAPP motion in court. The anti-SLAPP motion would freeze the case and allow a judge to quickly dismiss any lawsuit deemed by the judge to be frivolous.

On the other hand, if a judge decides the lawsuit was not frivolous, the case would resume and the case would play out as normal.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, and Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard.

“What SLAPP lawsuits are designed to do is they are designed to intimidate or distract you or bankrupt you,” Scott said on the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives.

The Idaho Senate previously voted 32-1 to pass the bill on Jan. 27.

Senate Bill 1001 heads next to Gov. Brad Little’s desk for final consideration. Once the bill reaches his desk, Little will have five days – Sundays excluded – to sign the bill into law or veto. If Little does not take action within five days, the bill would become law without his signature.

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.