MA S1143

Prohibits civil defamation lawsuits against any person, firm, or corporation for publishing fair and true reports of judicial, legislative, or other official proceedings

Creates a legal privilege for communications made without malice regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination

Entitles prevailing defendants in defamation suits involving privileged communications to reasonable attorney's fees, costs, treble damages for harm caused by the lawsuit, and punitive damages

Applies only to individuals who have or had a reasonable basis to file a complaint of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination, regardless of whether a formal complaint was actually filed

Defines covered "communications" to include factual information about sexual assault, sexual harassment, workplace harassment/discrimination, retaliation, and housing discrimination by property owners