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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4364 (111th)

Citizen Participation Act of 2009

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 December 2009

Last action

26 April 2010 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

Sponsors

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

14 August 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Citizen Participation Act of 2009 - Declares that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), filed against thousands of individuals, organizations, and businesses based upon their valid exercise of the rights to petition or free speech, are an abuse of the judicial process that waste judicial resources and clog the already over-burdened court dockets. Declares immune from civil liability any act of petitioning the government made without knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of falsity. Requires a plaintiff (especially in a SLAPP) to prove knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of falsity by clear and convincing evidence. Provides that any act in futherance of the constitutional right of petition or free speech shall be entitled to the procedural protections provided in this Act. Allows a party to file a special motion to dismiss any claim arising from an act or alleged act in furtherance of the constitutional right of petition or free speech within 45 days after service of the claim if the claim was filed in federal court or, if the claim was removed to federal court pursuant to this Act, within 15 days after removal. Exempts from this Act: (1) certain procedural protections in any action brought solely on behalf of the public or solely to enforce an important right affecting the public interest; and (2) certain claims for relief involving commercial speech.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 16 December 2009

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 16 December 2009

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 December 2009

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 26 April 2010

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

    Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 16 December 2009

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 16 December 2009

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 16 December 2009

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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