This bill proposes to amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section, 12-651.01, which addresses defamation actions in the context of accusations of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or domestic violence. Under the new law, individuals accused of such offenses would be prohibited from using defamation claims to silence or retaliate against their accusers or those reporting the allegations. This aims to protect the rights of accusers and ensure that they can speak out without fear of legal repercussions.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific conditions under which a defamation action may be pursued if an accuser is publicly named. These conditions include proving that the alleged act was impossible for the accused to have committed, that the accuser has been impeached in court regarding the same facts, that the accuser has made contradictory public statements, or that the accuser has publicly denied the occurrence of the incident. This framework is designed to balance the rights of the accused with the need to protect individuals who report allegations of serious misconduct. The act may be cited as the "Right to Speak Your Truth Act."

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 12-651.01