Product Liability Amendments

SB 160 amends Utah's product liability law to change the requirements for proving defective design claims. It removes the need for plaintiffs (people suing over defective products) to demonstrate that a safer alternative design existed to win their case. The bill specifically updates Utah Code Section 78B-6-703 to state that a claimant is not required to show the availability of a safer, feasible alternative design to prevail in a defective design claim. This change directly affects consumers and businesses involved in product liability lawsuits by lowering a key evidentiary hurdle. The bill takes effect on May 7, 2025, with no fiscal impact or additional requirements.