Immunity of persons; statements regarding matters of public concern communicated to a third party.
Summary
Adds defamation to the causes of action from which a citizen shall be immune when making statements (i) regarding matters of public concern to a third party or (ii) at a public hearing before the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity. The bill further provides that the immunity does not apply to any statements made with actual or constructive knowledge that they are false, or with reckless disregard for whether they are false. This bill is identical to
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2017
Committee Review
Feb 2017
Senate Passage
Feb 2017
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2017
Signed into Law
Mar 2017
Introduced Jan 11, 2017
Signed Mar 16, 2017
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
9
Committee
10
Mar 16, 2017
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 597 (effective 7/1/17)
executive
Feb 25, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N)
legislature
Feb 25, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Amended by conference committee
legislature
Feb 23, 2017
Legislature · Passed
House requested conference committee
legislature
Feb 22, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Passed House with substitute (77-Y 20-N)
legislature
Feb 22, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1413H1
legislature
Feb 22, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 17105470D-H1
legislature
Feb 9, 2017
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Civil Law
legislature
Feb 9, 2017
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
legislature
Feb 6, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB1413S1
legislature
Feb 6, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 17105092D-S1
legislature
Jan 11, 2017
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
legislature
Jan 11, 2017
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103698D
legislature
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.
RRepublican
Co
Adam Ebbin
DDemocratic
Co
JL
Jennifer L McClellan
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 1413
Scope: VA
Hi! I can help you understand SB 1413. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline