A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Speak Your Truth Act. It requires that a prevailing defendant in a civil action for defamation or libel must be paid reasonable attorneys' fees and costs by the plaintiff. The communication involved must be factual information expressed without malice. It must also relate to an incident of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination experienced by the individual making the communication. The fee award is limited to reasonable costs for the particular position or claim. A court may limit the fees if exceptional, unusual, and special circumstances make payment unjust.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Would women be better off under this?
Women disproportionately experience sexual assault and harassment, and this bill protects them from retaliatory legal actions when sharing their experiences.
- Scored +6
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
The bill safeguards individuals expressing truthful information regarding harassment or discrimination without malice by shifting legal costs onto plaintiffs in unsuccessful defamation suits.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?
The bill protects individuals speaking out about sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination from retaliatory defamation lawsuits by awarding attorney's fees to prevailing defendants.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Protection for Victims Speaking Out: Under Section 2(a), a defendant who wins a defamation or libel lawsuit for making a communication is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and costs paid by the plaintiff. This helps protect individuals who share factual information without malice about experiences involving sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Burden on Plaintiffs: Under Section 2(a), the plaintiff in a defamation or libel action must pay the reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of a prevailing defendant. This could create a significant financial burden for plaintiffs who bring these civil actions.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — Women disproportionately experience sexual assault and harassment, and this bill protects them from retaliatory legal actions when sharing their experiences. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults often face workplace harassment or discrimination issues and benefit from stronger legal protections when speaking out publicly.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — The bill safeguards individuals expressing truthful information regarding harassment or discrimination without malice by shifting legal costs onto plaintiffs in unsuccessful defamation suits.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill protects individuals speaking out about sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination from retaliatory defamation lawsuits by awarding attorney's fees to prevailing defendants.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House