| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 25 LC 62 0211 | |
| 2 | 2 | House Bill 911 | |
| 3 | 3 | By: Representative Cummings of the 39 | |
| 4 | 4 | th | |
| 5 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 6 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 7 | 7 | AN ACT | |
| 8 | 8 | To amend Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to libel and slander, | |
| 9 | 9 | 1 | |
| 10 | 10 | so as to prohibit individuals from bringing defamation actions against another individual who2 | |
| 11 | 11 | makes a communication regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex3 | |
| 12 | 12 | discrimination when that individual believed such incident to have occurred; to provide for4 | |
| 13 | 13 | attorney's fees and costs for a prevailing defendant; to provide for related matters; to repeal5 | |
| 14 | 14 | conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 | |
| 15 | 15 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 | |
| 16 | 16 | SECTION 1.8 | |
| 17 | 17 | Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to libel and slander,9 | |
| 18 | 18 | is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:10 | |
| 19 | 19 | "51-5-13. | |
| 20 | 20 | 11 | |
| 21 | 21 | (a) An individual shall not bring an action pursuant to this chapter against another12 | |
| 22 | 22 | individual who makes a communication without malice regarding an incident of sexual13 | |
| 23 | 23 | assault, sexual harassment, or sex discrimination if, at the time of making the14 | |
| 24 | 24 | communication, the communicating individual has a reasonable belief that sexual assault,15 | |
| 25 | 25 | sexual harassment, or sex discrimination occurred.16 | |
| 26 | 26 | H. B. 911 | |
| 27 | 27 | - 1 - 25 LC 62 0211 | |
| 28 | 28 | (b) A prevailing defendant in an action brought in violation of subsection (a) of this Code17 | |
| 29 | 29 | section is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees, expenses of litigation, and costs."18 | |
| 30 | 30 | SECTION 2.19 | |
| 31 | 31 | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.20 | |
| 32 | 32 | H. B. 911 | |
| 33 | 33 | - 2 - |