An Act strengthening the commonwealth's Anti-SLAPP law

This bill updates Massachusetts law to strengthen protections against Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation, allowing individuals who speak on matters of public concern to quickly dismiss lawsuits intended to silence them. It requires courts to prioritize these special motions and halts most discovery processes until the motion is resolved, while also permitting the Attorney General to intervene on behalf of the public interest. If a court rules in favor of the person being sued, the bill mandates that they receive all their legal costs and attorney fees. These changes directly affect citizens, organizations, and government agencies by providing a faster and more robust mechanism to defend against frivolous litigation targeting their free speech.