House Bill 911
By: Representative Cummings of the 39th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to libel and slander,
so as to prohibit individuals from bringing defamation actions against another individual who
makes a communication regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex
discrimination when that individual believed such incident to have occurred; to provide for
attorney's fees and costs for a prevailing defendant; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to libel and slander,
is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"51-5-13.
(a) An individual shall not bring an action pursuant to this chapter against another
individual who makes a communication without malice regarding an incident of sexual
assault, sexual harassment, or sex discrimination if, at the time of making the
communication, the communicating individual has a reasonable belief that sexual assault,
sexual harassment, or sex discrimination occurred.
</ins>
<ins>(b) A prevailing defendant in an action brought in violation of subsection (a) of this Code
section is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees, expenses of litigation, and costs."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.