HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1957        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4164

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rob Consalvo

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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 relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1957        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4164

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms.

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

SECTION 1. The fifth paragraph of section 59H of chapter 231 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- If the plaintiff and the defendant are both natural persons, any costs or fees awarded by the court pursuant to this paragraph shall not result in a lien against the nonmoving party’s primary residence or primary business, if the business has 500 or fewer employees.

SECTION 2. Said section 59H of said chapter 231, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the fifth paragraph the following paragraph:-

If a party brings a special motion to dismiss under this section, the court may order the parties to participate in mediation to resolve the dispute, during which no attorneys fees or costs shall accrue. Mediation shall be conducted as expeditiously as possible. If the parties do not resolve the dispute during mediation, the court shall decide whether to grant the special motion.