SB 1001: Protecting public expression — 2025
ICL's position: Support
Current Bill Status: Passed Senate, House Committee
Issue Areas: Clean Air, Clean Water, Fish and Wildlife, Public Lands, State Issues
Senate Bill 1001, also known as the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), was introduced by Sen. Brian Lenney (R-Nampa) and Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard) in the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee. The bill is intended to guard against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known as SLAPP suits. It’s a redo of SB 1325 from 2024, which failed in the Senate.
SLAPP suits are designed to intimidate and discourage individuals from engaging in public processes or making public comments through litigation.
There have been notable SLAPP suits in Idaho when wealthy landowners faced local opposition to land use decisions from community members. Defamation suit targets have targeted lifetime public servants and community leaders, who simply cared enough about their communities to speak out.