(Radio Iowa) – Iowa House has unanimously passed the “Public Expression Protection Act” to help Iowans facing lawsuits that backers of the bill say are meant to intimidate critics. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison sponsored the bill after a former Carroll policeman sued the local newspaper for reporting on the policeman’s relationships with teenage girls.

“A newspaper reporting the truth was sued by the individual who the truth was reported about,” Holt says. “Even through the newspaper won the lawsuit, it cost them $100,000 and almost put them out of business.” This the fourth time the Iowa House has overwhelming supported legislation against so called “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation — or SLAPP actions.

Representative Steven Holt (R-Denison)

“I am proud that in a bipartisan way this chamber has been anti-SLAPP before anti-SLAPP was cool,” Holt says. “It appears that it’s now cool in the Senate and is actually going to pass this session.” If, as expected, the bill becomes law, someone being sued over public statements could ask the judge to immediately review the case to see if it could be thrown out.

If the lawsuit is ruled a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” or SLAPP action, the person or group that filed the lawsuit could be forced to cover the legal fees of the person they sued.”The point of this is to protect freedom of expression, to protect First Amendment rights,” Holt says. “It allows a party to file a motion for expedited relief.”

Thirty-four other states already have similar laws.