SB 619

Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

Sponsor: Shelly Hettleman (District 11)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (17)

MGA witness list

FAV 14FavorableUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Howe, Joshlobbyist	Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hettleman, Shelly	MGA- Senator Hettleman	Written (PDF)
FAV	Breen, John	Maryland Association for Justice. SB619. Corrected Testimony will be submitted	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shapiro, Melanielobbyist	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FAV	Levy, Paul	Public Citizen	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Siri, Michellelobbyist	The Women's Law Center of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Flasch, Stephanie	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McLaughlin, Jim	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mishkin, Maxwell	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Poggioli, Beth	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Hettleman, Senator Hettlemanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Snyder, Rebeccalobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Barber, Claudia	Claudia Barber, Attorney at Law	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Hollywood, Nicole	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Claudia Barber, Attorney at LawUNF 1

Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)FAV 1

Maryland Association for Justice. SB619. Corrected Testimony will be submittedFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 1

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 1

MGA- Senator HettlemanFAV 1

Public CitizenFAV 1

The Women's Law Center of MarylandFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVHowe, JoshCompass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)Registered for: Maryland Association for Justice, LLC.; American Massage Therapy Association - MD Chapter; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Maryland (NAMI MD); NexAmp, Inc.; JJF Management Services, Inc.; Maryland State Perfusion Society, Inc.

FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

FAVShapiro, MelanieMaryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceRegistered for: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FAVSiri, MichelleThe Women's Law Center of MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Legal Services Corporation; Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

FAVSnyder, RebeccaRegistered for: MD/DC Press Association