Damages; increasing maximum limitation on compensation for noneconomic loss; removing exceptions to limitation on noneconomic loss compensation. Effective date.

SB 827 raises the maximum cap for noneconomic damages in personal injury cases from $350,000 to $500,000. It removes prior exceptions that allowed higher damages in some cases but adds a new exception: noneconomic damages have no cap if a court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted recklessly, grossly negligently, fraudulently, or intentionally. The bill requires courts to separately identify economic and noneconomic damages in verdicts and prohibits juries from being informed about the cap during trials. It applies to most personal injury cases filed on or after November 1, 2025, but excludes government tort claims and wrongful death cases.