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HB0223

Preventing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

Last scannedOct 14, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This act provides immunity from lawsuits based on the constitutional rights of freedom of petition, expression or speech for individuals involved in matters of public concern.

What it does

  • Creates a law called the Wyoming Anti-SLAPP Act to provide legal protection against strategic lawsuits that aim to silence people speaking out about public issues.
  • Gives individuals immunity from lawsuits if those lawsuits are based on their exercise of constitutional rights such as freedom of speech, petition, or expression in matters of public concern.
  • Allows someone who is sued to ask the court to dismiss a case quickly if it's based on protected activities like speaking out or writing about issues of public interest.
  • Requires courts to decide these cases within 30 business days after receiving a motion to dismiss.

Who it affects

  • People who speak out on matters of public concern
  • Courts that handle lawsuits involving freedom of speech or petition issues

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and is now inactive in Wyoming.
  • It does not apply to lawsuits filed after its effective date if it had passed.
  • Details about how the law would be enforced are not fully explained.

Plain language

Terms to know

Strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP)
A lawsuit filed to silence people speaking up about public issues, often by using the threat of legal costs.
Immunity
Protection from being sued or held legally responsible for certain actions.

Official record

Sources

Source checked

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 5, 9:27 PM

Couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

2 roll calls

H 3rd Reading:Passed 49-9-2-0-22025-02-12 · House49 yes 9 no
H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02025-02-07 · House9 yes 0 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 5-4Senate
  2. S No report prior to CoW CutoffSenate
  3. S Introduced and Referred to S01 - JudiciarySenate
  4. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  5. H 3rd Reading:Passed 49-9-2-0-2House
  6. H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
  7. H COW:PassedHouse
  8. H Placed on General FileHouse
  9. H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0House
  10. H Introduced and Referred to H07 - CorporationsHouse
  11. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  12. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

6 stored

HB0223H2001

The amendment removes specific sections from the bill that relate to civil procedure and immunity for public participation.

HB0223H2002

The amendment to HB0223 changes punctuation and removes specific lines related to the bill's content.

HB0223H2003

The amendment changes the date when certain protections against lawsuits based on public participation will take effect.

HB0223H2004

The amendment adds a definition to exclude defamation lawsuits from being considered strategic lawsuits against public participation.

HB0223H3001

The amendment removes a specific line from the bill's first page, which is part of an act aimed at providing legal protections for public participation.

HB0223HS001

The amendment changes definitions and timing details in the bill, altering how certain terms are used and when parts of the bill take effect.