BILL · 2009–10 SESSION

SB 5211: Candidates for public office

Prohibiting false and defamatory statements about candidates for public office.

Summary

Libel or defamation per se are defined as statements that tend (a) to expose a living person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or to deprive that person of the benefit of public confidence or social intercourse, or to injure that person in his or her business or occupation, or (b) to injury any person, corporation, or association in his, her, or its business or occupation.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5211), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House

AN ACT Relating to false and defamatory statements about candidates for public office;

Passed March 5, 2009

Version voted on: SB 5211

44 Yea 1 Nay 1 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	26	1	1	3
Republican	18	0	0	0

How each member voted

Mar 15, 2010By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Jan 26, 2010Senate Rules "X" file.
Jan 11, 2010Made eligible to be placed on third reading.
Jan 11, 2010By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Apr 26, 2009By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Mar 6, 2009First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs.
Mar 5, 2009Third reading, passed; yeas, 44; nays, 1; absent, 1; excused, 3.
Mar 5, 2009Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Feb 17, 2009Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Feb 2, 2009GO - Majority; do pass.
Feb 2, 2009Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Jan 16, 2009First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections.

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

SB 5211 (2025–26) DD parental caregivers · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5211 (2023–24) Firearms/purchase & transfer · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5211 (2021–22) Tax increment financing · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
SB 5211 (2019–20) Animals/paramedic training · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 5211 (2017–18) Adjudicative proceedings · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5211 (2015–16) Retiree return-to-work/PERS · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
SB 5211 (2013–14) Social networking accounts · Enacted · Chapter 330, Laws of 2013
SB 5211 (2011–12) Forest practice applications · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor