Florida Defamation Bill HB 991 Passes Committee Vote
Several members of the committee, including the Republicans, said that they had concerns about the sections of the bill which would modify the requirements concerning which the party had to pay for the fees of lawyer for the other, fearing to undermine the laws aimed at preventing pursuing of reprisals or frivolous proceedings designed to silence critics.
Some said they hoped that changes would be made to the bill, which had also been Rejected the Chamber’s Judicial Committee For examination, before it was raised for a new consideration by the full house.
John Harris Maurer, director of public policies of equality of the LGBTQ Group Florida, told the Committee that the bill also needed additional clarification in a section which deals with defamatory discrimination allegations against queer.
Currently, the bill declares that a defendant cannot try to prove the truth of its claim by citing the expression or scientific religious beliefs or protected by the applicant. “”
Andrade insisted that his bill means that a defendant cannot use statements such as their only evidence, but Harris Maurer said that this was not clear in the text.
“This bill is sexist, racist, homophobic and transphobic,” said Harris Maurer. “Why? Because it restricts people’s ability to call sexism, racism, homophobia and transphobia. It is politically motivated.”
Florida governor Ron Desantis, who will prepare to announce a race for the presidency, has been expressed on his plans To make press freedoms back. Desantis also welcomed a Defamation round table Last month with right -wing figures that foreshadowed the legislation.
After the meeting, Block with the First Amendment Foundation told Buzzfeed News that it was disappointed that the bill made its first obstacle, but that it suspected that the state republicans would soon feel the pressure of voting against the conservative media, which would be equally at risk of defamation claims as another press.
“A law like this is a bit like arm a virus or bacteria,” said Block. “Once you have released it in nature, you have no idea what it will do. You can’t control it. It could swing you and bite you in your ass.”
