Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation Protections

SB 301 updates Utah's law protecting public speech from frivolous lawsuits. It narrows the law to apply only to defamation or slander cases involving constitutional rights like free speech or assembly. Key changes require courts to dismiss such cases without final judgment if they don't meet legal standards, and limit when defendants can recover legal costs or fees. This primarily affects activists, journalists, and community members speaking on public issues who face lawsuits over their expression.