Arizona State Rep. Kolodin on defamation bill: ‘Today thin-skinned politicians in the legislature tried to do it again. My answer was the same’

Arizona State Rep. Alexander Kolodin said on May 6 that some lawmakers attempted to restrict free speech under Senate Bill 1099 in the Arizona House.

The discussion comes as legislators consider SB1099, a bill that would create statutory definitions for defamation and establish elements for related claims. The proposal has sparked debate among lawmakers about its potential impact on First Amendment rights and public discourse, according to State Affairs Pro. 

“When Adrian Fontes tried to take away your freedom of speech I didn’t mince words – I took him to court and won. Today thin-skinned politicians in the legislature tried to do it again. My answer was the same,” Kolodin said in a post on X, which included a clip of his floor remarks.

Arizona courts currently use common law definitions for defamation involving libel and slander. Lawsuits involving public officials or figures require plaintiffs to prove actual malice under the U.S. Supreme Court’s New York Times v. Sullivan standard, according to Cornell Law School. Critics argue that SB1099 could affect how media outlets, citizens, and critics engage with elected officials and policy issues.

Kolodin, a Republican first elected to the Arizona House in 2022, represents Arizona House District 3 and currently is a candidate for Secretary of State, according to Ballotpedia.