Public hearings; person shall be immune from civil liability for certain violations. (SB1250)

Introduced By

Sen. Mark Herring (D-Leesburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Immunity of citizens at public hearings. Provides that any citizen appearing at a public hearing before the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or before another local governmental entity, shall be immune from a suit arising from the exercise of the citizen's right to speak to matters properly before the governing body. However, the immunity shall not apply to conduct constituting libel or slander. Read the Bill »

Status

03/23/2007: signed by governor

History

DateAction
01/10/2007Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/07 074438738
01/10/2007Referred to Committee on Local Government
01/23/2007Rereferred to Courts of Justice
01/29/2007Committee substitute printed 077832738-S1
01/30/2007Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
01/31/2007Read second time
01/31/2007Reading of substitute waived
01/31/2007Committee substitute agreed to 077832738-S1
01/31/2007Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB1250S1
02/01/2007Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/01/2007VOTE: (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2007Communicated to House
02/06/2007Placed on Calendar
02/06/2007Read first time
02/06/2007Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/16/2007Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2007Committee substitute printed 072017738-H1
02/20/2007Read second time
02/21/2007Read third time
02/21/2007Committee substitute agreed to 072017738-H1
02/21/2007Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1250H1
02/21/2007Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/21/2007VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2007House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/2007VOTE: (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2007Enrolled
03/08/2007Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1250ER)
03/08/2007Signed by Speaker
03/11/2007Signed by President
03/23/2007G Approved by Governor-Chapter 798 (effective 7/1/07)
04/10/2007G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0798)

Comments

David writes:

Slap suits are threating our free speach. This bill will help protect citizens. Looks like something well overdue, unless I missed something.

Alison Hymes writes:

What a great bill. Now if we could only have a bill to protect our free speech on the internet from big corporations such as Eli Lilly. Of course that would have to be federal...