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H4164 • 2025

An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms

An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Rob Consalvo
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms

An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms By Representative Consalvo of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms By Representative Consalvo of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4164) of Rob Consalvo relative to lien exposure.
  • The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-11-04 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  3. 2025-11-04 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  4. 2025-10-29 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  5. 2025-06-02 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. 2025-05-29 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  7. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to Anti-SLAPP law reforms
By Representative Consalvo of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4164) of Rob Consalvo relative to lien exposure. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.4164

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.

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