Revise laws related to increasing product liability protection for consumers relating to economic harm

SB 292 amends Montana's product liability law (Section 27-1-719, MCA) to expand seller liability for both physical and financial losses caused by unreasonably dangerous products. It directly affects consumers who suffer economic harm - such as lost wages or business income - from defective products sold by businesses. The bill requires sellers to be liable for such financial harm if the product was defective when sold, while excluding claims related to COVID-19 (per subsection 3(a)) and preserving seller defenses like product misuse or contributory negligence. This change shifts the law from covering only physical harm to explicitly including economic losses, without altering the core liability framework for defective products.