HB 2475 Summary

• Expands Anti-SLAPP protections in section 12-751 to include religious liberty, political or religious views, and politically related advocacy, and creates a new civil cause of action against state actors who intentionally bring or maintain legal actions with a substantial motivation to deter or retaliate against persons exercising these rights.

• Establishes state actor liability under section 12-751(I) with remedies including declaratory relief, nominal damages, compensatory damages, attorney fees, costs, and vacatur of adverse judgments, with individuals unable to be indemnified by the state and peace officers immune from liability.

• Creates section 13-4242 allowing defendants convicted in actions brought in violation of section 12-751 to file postconviction relief petitions if they qualify as "eligible petitioners" (public officials, candidates, nonprofit officers, public figures, police officers, protest participants, or their agents/employees/attorneys).

• Modifies section 13-716 to clarify that juveniles sentenced to indeterminate life sentences are eligible for parole after serving the minimum sentence and may remain on parole for life subject to board conditions until discharge or revocation.

• Clarifies that state actor definition in section 12-751 includes professional or occupational licensing organizations with mandatory membership and expands to include federal entities to the maximum extent permitted by the U.S. and Arizona constitutions.