Grants an affirmative defense for certain privileged communications, including communications made by an individual, without malice, regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would create a legal protection for people who speak up about sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination. Specifically, it would give individuals an "affirmative defense" — meaning a legal argument they can use to defend themselves in court — if they are sued for making statements about these types of incidents. The key condition is that the communication must be made without malice, meaning the person sharing the information is not doing so out of spite or with the intent to harm someone's reputation unfairly.

The bill falls under the category of "privileged communications," which is a legal concept describing certain types of speech that receive special protection from lawsuits. By extending this privilege to good-faith reports or statements about sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination, the bill aims to reduce the legal risk that someone might face for coming forward or speaking out about these experiences.

This legislation would most directly affect people who have reported or spoken about experiencing sexual misconduct or workplace discrimination, as well as witnesses or others who have shared information about such incidents. It could also affect employers, organizations, or individuals who have been the subject of such communications and might otherwise file a defamation or related lawsuit in response.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study — meaning it has not yet advanced and lawmakers are still reviewing and debating its details.