Effective May 25th, Minnesota adopted the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA) to protect journalists and the public against meritless lawsuits meant to prevent the exercise of their First Amendment rights. Signed into law by Governor Tim Walz, HF 5216, adopts the UPEPA anti-SLAPP law providing Minnesota with much needed protections against strategic lawsuits against public participation (“SLAPP”) lawsuits after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled the state’s initial anti-SLAPP law was unconstitutional in violation of the right to a jury trial in 2017. Minnesota is the most recent state to join seven others in adopting the UPEPA to protect free speech.
Rhyia Bibby is a Law Clerk at the News/Media Alliance.
