SB0227S04 (Substitute)
Punitive Damages Amendments
Introduction
Feb 2
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 23
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 24
House Rules
Feb 24
House Committee
Feb 27
House Floor Vote
Mar 5
Senate Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 18
This bill enacts provisions relating to punitive damages.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Punitive damages are financial penalties courts can order on top of regular compensation — meant to punish especially harmful or reckless behavior. This bill makes two changes to how punitive damages work in Utah: it prohibits insurance companies from factoring the possibility of punitive damages into their underwriting, ratings, or premium decisions; and it sets new rules for when an employer or business can be held responsible for punitive damages based on an employee's wrongdoing, requiring a plaintiff to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the employer itself acted willfully, maliciously, or recklessly — or that it authorized, approved, or was reckless in hiring or keeping the employee.
Current version: SB0227S04 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 2
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 23
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 24
House Rules
Feb 24
House Committee
Feb 27
House Floor Vote
Mar 5
Senate Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 18
IntroductionFeb 2
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeFeb 4
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 23
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 24
House RulesFeb 24
House CommitteeFeb 27
House Floor VoteMar 5
Senate ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 18
This bill enacts provisions relating to punitive damages.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Punitive damages are financial penalties courts can order on top of regular compensation — meant to punish especially harmful or reckless behavior. This bill makes two changes to how punitive damages work in Utah: it prohibits insurance companies from factoring the possibility of punitive damages into their underwriting, ratings, or premium decisions; and it sets new rules for when an employer or business can be held responsible for punitive damages based on an employee's wrongdoing, requiring a plaintiff to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the employer itself acted willfully, maliciously, or recklessly — or that it authorized, approved, or was reckless in hiring or keeping the employee.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:45 PM