Bill Text: TX SB627 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to certain defenses to libel actions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-28 - Effective immediately [SB627 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB627-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 627 | ||
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| relating to certain defenses to libel actions. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 73.005, Civil Practice and Remedies | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 73.005. TRUTH A DEFENSE. (a) The truth of the | ||
| statement in the publication on which an action for libel is based | ||
| is a defense to the action. | ||
| (b) In an action brought against a newspaper or other | ||
| periodical or broadcaster, the defense described by Subsection (a) | ||
| applies to an accurate reporting of allegations made by a third | ||
| party regarding a matter of public concern. | ||
| (c) This section does not abrogate or lessen any other | ||
| remedy, right, cause of action, defense, immunity, or privilege | ||
| available under the Constitution of the United States or this state | ||
| or as provided by any statute, case, or common law or rule. | ||
| SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
| to accurate reporting by a newspaper or other periodical or | ||
| broadcaster made on or after the effective date of this Act. The | ||
| accurate reporting by a newspaper or other periodical or | ||
| broadcaster made before the effective date of this Act is governed | ||
| by the law applicable to the accurate reporting immediately before | ||
| that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 627 passed the Senate on | ||
| April 22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 627 passed the House on | ||
| May 15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, two | ||
| present not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
