RELATING TO DEFAMATION.

HB 148 protects individuals who make claims about sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits, directly affecting those reporting such incidents and potential defendants. The bill states that a defamation claim cannot succeed unless the person making the claim was proven to have acted with "malice" (knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth). This creates a legal shield for accusers in sexual misconduct cases, preventing lawsuits based solely on the truthfulness of their allegations. The bill remains pending in the 2026 session after being carried over from 2025.