The Public Participation Project works to protect citizens from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) through the enactment of legislation in Congress and the states. SLAPPs are lawsuits brought against those who communicate with their government or speak out on issues of public interest. 

At the federal level, PPP has focused on the Free Speech Protection Act, SLAPP Protection Act, Speak Free Act and the Consumer Review Fairness Act.

Free Speech Protection Act

On December 5, 2024, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Kevin Kiley (CA-03) introduced the Free Speech Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to protect individuals and organizations from frivolous lawsuits designed to chill free speech and political action. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) leads companion legislation in the Senate. 

 
 

SLAPP Protection Act

HR 8864, The SLAPP Protection Act of 2022, was introduced by Congressman Jamie Raskin on September 15, 2022.

You can read PPP’s statement about the bill here.

Speak Free Act

Since the introduction of the SPEAK FREE Act of 2015 in May, momentum has been building to enact federal anti-SLAPP legislation.  The bill had more than 30 co-sponsors in the House and there was a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on June 22, 2016.  You can view that hearing here.

 
 

Consumer Review Fairness Act

The Consumer Review Fairness Act was a legislative victory for PPP in 2016.  PPP began working on this bill back in 2014 with Rep. Eric Swalwell and continued to fight for this legislation until it was enacted in 2016.  Read the text of the law here.