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HB 214UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah preempts local firearm liability lawsuits and sets strict dismissal rules for claims against gun manufacturers

Original title: Firearms Liability Amendments

Last action · March 26, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Jordan Teuscher and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts legislation prohibiting political subdivisions from imposing civil liability on firearm manufacturers, sellers, or trade associations for the criminal misuse of firearms, while requiring courts to dismiss qualifying civil claims that fail to meet specific statutory pleading standards.

Why it matters

Local governments are barred from passing ordinances that hold gun industry members civilly liable for criminal product misuse, and defendants who successfully dismiss such claims in court are entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs starting May 6, 2026.

Background
  • State preemption laws regarding firearms restrict local municipalities from implementing independent gun regulations or liability rules that differ from state statute. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Firearm manufacturers and sellers

Firearm manufacturers and sellers receive protection from civil liability claims unless specific statutory exceptions are met and pleaded with particularity.

Directly affected

Political subdivisions

Cities, counties, and other local political subdivisions are preempted from passing ordinances or rules that impose civil liability on firearm industry members.

Directly affected

Civil plaintiffs

Individuals bringing civil claims against firearm businesses face stricter pleading requirements, mandatory dismissal for non-compliant claims, and potential liability for attorney fees.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can local cities or counties in Utah pass laws holding gun manufacturers liable for crimes?
No. The bill explicitly political subdivisions from enacting any legislation, code, ordinance, or rule that imposes civil liability on a manufacturer, seller, or trade association for the criminal misuse of a qualified product.
What happens to a plaintiff if their civil lawsuit against a gun manufacturer or seller is dismissed under this law?
If a defendant prevails on a motion to dismiss under these provisions, they are entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs from the plaintiff.
Are there any exceptions where a lawsuit against a gun manufacturer or seller is still allowed?
Yes, claims are allowed under specific exceptions such as , negligence per se, breach of contract or warranty, physical injuries resulting directly from a design or manufacturing defect, or knowing violations of specific state or federal firearm statutes.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

42 actions
  1. Mar 26, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Feb 26, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Feb 24, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 36 earlier actions
  1. Feb 24, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Feb 20, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Feb 20, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  7. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  8. Feb 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  9. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  10. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  11. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  12. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Feb 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  14. Feb 5, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  15. Feb 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  16. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  17. Feb 5, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  18. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  19. Jan 28, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0214S01
  20. Jan 27, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0214S01
  21. Jan 27, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  22. Jan 27, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  23. Jan 26, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  24. Jan 26, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  25. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0214S01
  26. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0214S01
  27. Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  28. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  29. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  30. Jan 17, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0214
  31. Jan 17, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0214
  32. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  33. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0214
  34. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0214
  35. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  36. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Jordan TeuscherHouse · District 44RepublicanPrimary sponsor
David HinkinsSenate · District 26RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Local Preemption and Heightened Pleading Standards

The legislation shifts legal authority away from local political subdivisions regarding firearm liability while establishing rigorous pleading and dismissal mandates for civil claims against gun industry entities.

Connected Entities

Jordan D. Teuscher, David P. Hinkins
PersonJordan D. Teuscher“Chief Sponsor in the lower house”Map →
PersonDavid P. Hinkins“Senate Sponsor”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy80
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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