AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE

HB 7749 repeals the collateral source rule in medical malpractice cases, meaning defendants would no longer be allowed to introduce evidence of insurance or workers' compensation benefits the plaintiff received to reduce the damage award. This directly affects plaintiffs and defendants in medical malpractice lawsuits, as it would prevent courts from lowering awarded damages based on payments already received by the plaintiff from third parties (like health insurance or disability programs). The bill removes the current mechanism where defendants could show such benefits to reduce damages, and plaintiffs could counter with their own contributions to secure those benefits. If enacted, plaintiffs would receive full damage awards without deductions for pre-existing insurance benefits, while defendants could not offset payments through collateral sources.