The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), commonly referred to as the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute, serves as a constitutional safeguard protecting the "rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted by law and, at the same time, protect[s] the rights of a person to file meritorious lawsuits for demonstrable injury." In other words, the statute provides litigants a valuable tool: an early opportunity to move to dismiss a lawsuit that infringes on their First Amendment rights, and, if successful, an award of attorney fees.

Although the Texas Supreme Court has previously described the TCPA as "casting a wide net," recent changes to the statute's language, in effect since Sept. 1, 2019, have significantly narrowed its application:

• Prior to the amendments, a litigant could file a motion to dismiss under the TCPA if the "legal action is based on, relates to, or is in response to a party's exercise of the right of free speech, right to petition, or right of association." The amended statute omits the "relates to" language.
• The amendments limit "right of association" to matters "relating to a governmental proceeding or a matter of public concern."
• The amended statute defines a "matter of public concern" as a statement or activity regarding a public official, public figure, or other person who has drawn substantial public attention due to the person's official acts, fame, notoriety or celebrity; a matter of political, social or other interest to the community, or; a subject of concern to the public.

Although not an exhaustive list of the amendments to the TCPA, these changes are likely to be the most litigated, as evidenced by the Dallas Court of Appeals recent decision in Vaughn-Riley v. Patterson.