Assembly Bill 701 seeks to adopt the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA) in Wisconsin, which aims to provide expedited legal protections for individuals facing civil actions based on their public expressions or communications related to governmental proceedings. The bill allows defendants to file a special motion to dismiss such actions, requiring the court to hold a hearing within 60 days and to stay all related proceedings, including discovery, until a ruling is made. The court must dismiss the case with prejudice if the moving party demonstrates that the action falls under the protections of the UPEPA and the responding party fails to establish a prima facie case or the applicability of certain exclusions.

The bill introduces new statutory language, specifically creating section 802.065, which outlines the scope and procedures for the special motion for expedited relief. It defines key terms such as "governmental unit" and "person," and specifies that the protections do not apply to actions against governmental entities or those primarily engaged in selling goods or services. Additionally, it amends section 802.06 to incorporate the new provisions, ensuring that motions under the UPEPA are handled in accordance with the established legal framework. The bill also stipulates that costs and attorney fees related to the special motion will be awarded to the prevailing party, further incentivizing the use of this expedited process.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 802.06(2)(b), 802.06