HB3253: Establishing of the West Virginia Public Participation Act

Legislative Summary

The purpose of this bill is to establish the West Virginia Public Participation Act. The bill provides additional protections to individuals and entities engaged in the exercise of the protected constitutional rights of free speech, freedom to petition, and freedom of association by allowing for the filing of a motion to dismiss in response to strategic lawsuits against public participation. The bill establishes procedures for reviewing strategic lawsuits against public participation and sets forth the applicability and limitations of the defense.