HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 709        FILED ON: 1/11/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4018

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Tram T. Nguyen

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act protecting assault survivors.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 709        FILED ON: 1/11/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4018

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

An Act protecting assault survivors.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 231 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 91B the following section:-

Section 91C. (a) A person shall not, in an action for slander or libel, be held liable in damages for any communication made, without malice, regarding an incident in which they were the victim of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination.

(b) A prevailing defendant in any slander or libel action brought against that defendant for making a communication to which subsection (a) applies shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, plus treble damages for any harm caused to them by the defamation action against them, in addition to any other relief permitted by law.

(c) This section shall only apply to an individual who has, or at any time had, a reasonable basis to file a complaint of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination, whether or not the complaint was actually filed.