State Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) speaks with Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) on the House floor on Jan. 15, 2025.
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 30, 2025 — State Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) introduced legislation to protect Michiganders against strategic litigation against public participants (SLAPP) today. SLAPPs are intended to silence or intimidate individuals who speak out on public interest concerns, and the lawsuits can cost defendants thousands of dollars to defend themselves. They are typically initiated by wealthy, powerful plaintiffs against defendants with fewer resources.
“These frivolous lawsuits are insults to fundamental First Amendment freedoms — expression, speech and association,” Hope said. “This legislation will end this abuse of our legal system and ensure Michiganders the right to free speech without the fear of being sued and having to pay tens of thousands of dollars to defend themselves. Michigan is currently one of 15 states without an anti-SLAPP law. It is far past time that we take action to protect our right to free speech in our state.”
HB 4045 would allow courts to immediately dismiss SLAPP suits, protecting defendants and saving court time and resources. This legislation was previously introduced last term as House Bill 5788, when it passed the House with overwhelming support, 100–8. It later died in the Senate when the term ended.
“Representative Hope’s bill gives Michiganders the ability to speak out on issues of public concern without fear of being sued,” said Kaitlin Wolff, legislative program director at the Uniform Law Commission. “The bill accomplishes that goal by addressing strategic lawsuits against public participation, or ‘SLAPPs.’ A SLAPP suit is filed to bury its target in costly litigation and stifle speech, not to win. Thirty-five states have a law in place to address these frivolous suits, but Michigan does not.”
This legislation will also provide protections for survivors of violence who wish to come forward and seek justice, but are threatened into silence with these SLAPP suits.
“Anti-SLAPP laws are vital for empowering survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking,” said Heath Lowry, staff attorney and policy specialist at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. “These laws offer crucial protection against lawsuits meant to silence and intimidate survivors, stripping perpetrators of yet another dangerous weapon.”
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