H.B. 214 Firearms Liability Amendments

What this bill does

The bill changes Utah's firearm liability rules so that claims against firearm sellers and manufacturers are limited to their own wrongful conduct, and courts must dismiss claims that do not meet the bill's specified requirements. Lawsuits would still be allowed for gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.

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Every vote

• 10 yes, 0 no, 2 absentHouse Public Utilities and Energy Committee: vote to change the bill · Jan 26, 2026Who voted how
• 10 yes, 0 no, 2 absentHouse Public Utilities and Energy Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 26, 2026Who voted how
• 61 yes, 12 no, 2 absentFinal House vote · Feb 5, 2026Who voted how
• 3 yes, 1 no, 3 absentSenate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 20 yes, 7 no, 2 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 19, 2026Who voted how
• 19 yes, 6 no, 4 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 20, 2026

Hearings and debates

• Jan 26, 2026 House Public Utilities and Energy Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (36 turns)

  1. Committee chair1:27:48

     Alright, so next we'll go to Representative Tischer, HB two 14 Firearms Liability Amendments.

  2. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:28:01

     Well, thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, before I get started, my, um, great intern here has a flyer for the committee. Do you mind if she hands that out? That would be fine. Awesome. Thank you. And then, um, I, I just have to say, I, uh, I love being in front of my, my favorite, um, public utility, energy and guns committee. Um, it's, it's the, it's the best place to be. So I appreciate, um, you guys taking on that important responsibility and, uh, um, hopefully it, it helps with the, the load balancing and the other committees. So, um, I wanted to just give a little background here in a, in a second I'll introduce my good friend, um, Clark Potion, um, to, who can get into a lot of the weeds of and technical, um, answers to questions that you may have. But, um, I had one of my constituents reach out to me last March. Um, and, and as he put in his email, you know, he's just a regular guy, um, not, not representing anyone, but was, um, concerned in what he saw in other states where, um, attorneys were starting to be a little bit creative in some of the lawsuits that they were bringing against gun manufacturers. And as many of you know, um, the federal government passed the protection of Lawful Commerce and Arms Act, the pc, uh, P-L-C-A-A, um, uh, you know, over 20 years ago. And, um, within that, there is a, a predicate exception that gives, um, some states latitude, um, for specific types of offenses with firearms for there to be causes of actions against, um, firearm manufacturers. Um, but what, uh, I don't think any of us thought Congress would anticipate at that time is for enterprising, uh, attorneys bringing lawsuits based on consumer protection or nuisance type lawsuits, uh, against gun manufacturers. And so, what, um, my constituent had asked is that we would clarify that in Utah, uh, similar to several other states that have, um, brought forth, uh, bills like West Virginia and Montana. And, um, I, uh, I, I filed the bill and after it was out, uh, had had my good friend, um, Clark here reach out and, and say, Hey, we're really interested in that. We're looking at, uh, doing something similar across the country and, and also working on some, some federal legislation on the PC PLCL aa. And so we've worked together, and that's what you see here in the, uh, first substitute, uh, to this bill is, uh, a few more clarifications just to make sure it was sufficiently, uh, clear and tight of how courts should interpret, um, the predicate, um, uh, exception and, uh, and how we look at this in Utah. So, as I look at this, I, I don't see this as a major shift in any respect from what everyone believes the current policy is. Uh, firearm manufacturers should be liable for things that they are directly causing. However, if they, um, manufacture, uh, a weapon and someone goes out and uses it and commits a crime, ultimately they shouldn't be the ones that are, are responsible for that. And that's what this bill really clears up. So let me turn some time over to Clark here, and, um, he can give you a little more detail on the bill.

  3. Unknown speaker1:31:20speaker not certain

     Lemme, can, can I ask you just a technical or a clarifying question? This, uh, the sub that you mentioned is already been moved to here, or It is not. I'm just speaking to the first sub speaking.

  4. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:31:35

     I would hope that the committee would move it at the right time.

  5. Committee chair1:31:37

     Okay. Alright. So you're speaking to the first sub?

  6. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:31:40

     Correct. Alright, thank you.

  7. Committee chair1:31:41

     Mm-hmm. Go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. Chairman, uh, members of the committee.

  8. Clark Aposhian, Chair, Utah Shooting Sports Council1:31:48

     My name is Clark Apoian. I chair the Utah Shooting Sports Council. And, uh, in this case also represent the National Shooting Sports Foundation. So the P-L-C-A-A, um, is, is commonly called the protection of law for Lawful Commerce and Arms Act was, uh, started back in 2005 as a result of, uh, some extremists who were literally trying in their own words to put the gun companies out of business because their pockets, uh, for, um, uh, plaintiff's counsel were bigger than the gun manufacturers. And they knew that they, if they had enough lawsuits and enough courts, they could literally put them outta business. And that would be okay if the lawsuits were based on negligence or poorly manufactured firearms, or, you know, something along those lines. But it wasn't, it was because a gun was a gun. So, um, so they became necessary, um, because of that. And so they, they just sought to drive gun companies into bankruptcy. Um, so in 2005, Congress and many state legislatures, including Utah, um, recognized the need to act and pass laws to prevent this. So unfortunately, we've got some courts that are still misinterpreting key aspects of the law, and they're opening the door to renewed efforts, uh, at essentially weaponizing the legal system inappropriately. Make no mistake, um, that firearm companies can still be sued under the existing P-L-C-A-A and under, uh, uh, this modification to it. In fact, right here in Utah, we had a company put out of business, uh, because of a liability lawsuit. So to say that the P-L-C-A-A, um, restricts all lawsuits against gun companies is absolutely incorrect. Uh, claims, however, must be legitimately connected to a specific company based on their negligence or product defects or infractions of the law. That would include even a seller or a, uh, an FFLA fellow firearms licensed gun dealer, uh, acting inappropriately, not claims that arise due to illegal or negligent actions of a third party that would be akin to suing a automobile manufacturer because someone steals a car, gets drunk and crashes into another person. So, uh, we would encourage passage of this, uh, of this great legislation. We appreciate representative toucher for bringing it. That concludes our presentation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

  9. Committee chair1:34:31

     Alright, well then, uh, lack, or having concluded the presentation, we'll bring it back to the committee for any clarifying questions. Representative Moss,

  10. Rep. Carol S. Moss1:34:43

      Thank Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I have two questions, if I may, or I guess first to comment on your handout, the mention of Sandy Hook, that settlement just raised my concerns right there. Um, and if they got a $70 million payout, I mean, spite of the fact it said they didn't violate any firearm laws, I mean, we know how horrific that a tragedy that was. Um, I just wonder why you used that as an example. I mean, what, why then did the court find them neg negligent for?

  11. Committee chair1:35:27speaker not certain

      So, do you wanna start or it, it,

  12. Clark Aposhian, Chair, Utah Shooting Sports Council1:35:29

      It's probably for the very reason because there are some courts that, um, are, we would say certainly misinterpreting, um, the protection of lawful commerce and arms acts and extending it to acts by a, a third party. And so, yeah, that, uh, that's an example of one that the P-L-C-A-A was, was meant to address. However, the one in Utah, I think it was COBRA Firearms, uh, was sued due to a, uh, uh, a liability concern, and they literally were put outta business. But it was, um, the P-L-C-A-A was never meant to shield gun manufacturers from appropriate liability.

  13. Rep. Carol S. Moss1:36:08

      Thank you. One more question, if I might. Okay. Um, now I notice only two states have passed laws to shield them from these third party lawsuits. And, um, what I would like to know is if this passes, would that protect, uh, manufacturers who are negligent in their marketing, who, who are not marketing accurately? And so you could say they were negligent in the way they marketed that. Would that protect them? Because that is a concern I have, and some of my constituents have written to me about that they'd be even in case of negligent marketing, that they shouldn't be exempt from the basic standards of corporate accountability. Would that this bill do, that

  14. Clark Aposhian, Chair, Utah Shooting Sports Council1:37:03

      This bill does not extend beyond, um, the, the normal corporate standards of marketing in, in any way whatsoever. Now, I mean, if, if they're lying or anything like that in their marketing materials, they're still going to be, you know, held accountable and would have standing in court. So this wouldn't protect them. No, I, I absolutely cannot see any protection for that.

  15. Committee chair1:37:27

      Thank you. All right, Representative Shelley.

  16. Rep. Troy Shelley1:37:31

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, as I look at this, it, I, I guess to bring it to reality is this similar to if I'm driving a Chevy truck and I run through a stoplight and crash into someone, instead of that person suing me, they would turn around and sue Chevrolet instead

  17. Unknown speaker1:37:50speaker not certain

      E Exactly. Yeah. This, yeah.

  18. Rep. Troy Shelley1:37:53

      It seems to, it seems to work to protect the manufacturers. We can't sue everybody out of existence because we don't agree with their, their way of manufacturing or whatever. So I, I appreciate the clarification. That is how I kinda look at that. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Thank you.

  19. Committee chair1:38:15

      Seeing no further comments from the committee, is there any online All right. Seeing none online, then we'll bring it back to the committee for an action. We did. Oh, is, I'm sorry. Yeah. Is there, yeah, I apologize. Public comment. Is there anybody here? Okay. Yes. Come forward in my brain. We had Mr. Ian on the stand. I thought we had done that. He's a lot cuter than I am, so I get it. I don't know that that's accurate, but go ahead.

  20. Raelle Cunningham, State Director, Women For Gun Rights1:38:57

      Uh, Raelle Cunningham, Utah State Director of Women for Gun Rights, we just want to throw our support behind this bill. We think it is a good bill, um, to protect our manufacturers. We actually have quite a few manufacturers here in the state of Utah, and we just wanna make sure that if somebody is committing an act as a third person and it doesn't have anything to do with the manufacturing of the firearm, that they're, the manufacturer will not be held liable. So we just ask that you vote yes on this.

  21. Committee chair1:39:21

      Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Alright, then you already sign that I signed. Okay. I, I believe that concludes public comment now. So now we'll go to the committee for a, uh, for a motion rep. Oh, okay. Now, Representative Watkins.

  22. Rep. Christine F. Watkins1:39:47

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe we need to sub do the first substitute. It is in your name representative. I'd like to motion that we pass out, uh, su substitute one in the good representative's name. Alright, so the mo adopt, Sorry, adopt

  23. Committee chair1:40:04

      The motion is to adopt substitute one of HB two 14 and Representative T's name. All right. So we'll accept that motion. Um, any debate from the committee on that motion? All right, then back to the bill sponsor to that motion.

  24. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:40:23

      I'll waive. Okay.

  25. Committee chair1:40:25

      Then the mike or the motion has any final words on that motion?

  26. Rep. Christine F. Watkins1:40:29

      I'll waive. Okay.

  27. Committee chair1:40:30

      Then we'll vote to adopt sub one of HB two 14. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Alright, chair rules. That passes unanimously. So now we have an, uh, subbed bill in front of us.

  28. Committee chair1:40:50

      Representative Peck.

  29. Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck1:40:54

      I move that we recommend favorably HB two 14 as substituted.

  30. Committee chair1:41:00

      All right. So the motion is to adopt HB two 14 as substituted firearms liability amendments from Representative Tischer. That's a valid motion. Uh, any debate from the committee? Seeing none. All right. So, bill, sponsor, do you have any final words on that subject?

  31. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:41:24

      I appreciate the discussion. Um, uh, good chair. I was just gonna say my last name is tesser. Just tesser. Tesser. Like, usher. What did I say? Tuscher tuscher. I apologize. But, Um, like I said earlier, um, this really isn't a shift from the way that we have been treating this for a long period of time. It, it really just is clarifying so that we don't get any of those fringe lawsuits in in our state.

  32. Unknown speaker1:41:47speaker not certain

      Yeah. The best time to close the barn doors before the cows get out.

  33. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:41:51

      Exactly. Okay. Concur.

  34. Committee chair1:41:54

      All right, then back to the maker of the motion.

  35. Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck1:41:58

      Yeah, just this makes total sense to me and I really appreciate the good sponsor bringing it forward. Thank you.

  36. Committee chair1:42:03

      All right. So, uh, the motion is, is to pass out HB two 14 as amendment as subbed, uh, firearms liability amendments. All in favor say aye. Aye. Okay. Uh, motion, uh, chair. Oh, any opposed? Nope. Okay. Chair rules. That passes unanimously. Thank you. Okay. Thank you Representative Tussler. Then now we have one bill left.

• Feb 5, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (12 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)40:34speaker not certain

     First substitute House Bill two 14, firearms Liability Amendments by Representative Teuscher. This bill was heard in Public Utilities, energy and Technology with the vote of 10 0 2 Representative Teuscher.

  2. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher40:52

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, as many of you know, under the protection of Lawful Commerce and Arms Act, or the PC P-L-C-A-A, it shields gun manufacturers, uh, distributors and sellers from most civil lawsuits, um, when they're, when they've legally made and sold their firearms that are then later used in a crime. Now what what we've seen is some enterpri enterprising, uh, attorneys across the country be able to take advantage of loopholes, uh, in the PC P-L-C-A-A, uh, especially under consumer protections or broad interpretations of the predicate exception that allow for these types of suits to move forward. So what HP two 14 does is essentially cleans up those loopholes to ensure that, uh, manufacturers are only liable, uh, when they've, they've actually, uh, done something and, and actually cause uh, the harm to those that, uh, have, have, uh, uh, been involved in, in some sort of harm from a firearm. So similarly, if you were to think of an automobile, uh, if, if you had Ford that created an automobile and later on it was used, uh, to create a or to commit a crime and hurt someone, uh, you can't come back and sue for just because, uh, someone was using their automobile. That's exactly what this bill does. It cleans up those loopholes and ensures that those are who are actually liable for the crime are the ones that can be sued for that crime. So is Mr. Speaker happy to answer any questions on this bill?

  3. Speaker (presiding)42:37

     Representative Dominguez?

  4. Rep. Rosalba Dominguez42:42

     Yes, thank you. Um, have looked at this bill and further, and I've been contacted by constituents. Um, my concern about this is our children and, and what they will face in schools, um, and families if, if someone does come into their school as an active shooter, um, and how the gun manufacturing industry is marketing to our children within games and how that looks like to a child who then fills maybe othered. And, um, not that all the bear, uh, should be on the responsibility of the GaN manufacturer, but this does not protect people. It protects more of the corporation. And I just wanted to ask for a novo on this with me. Thank you so much.

  5. Speaker (presiding)43:36

     Thank you Representative Dominguez. Further discussion to the bill Representative Shelley.

  6. Rep. Troy Shelley43:43

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I rising great support of this. I think this is brilliant. We cannot hamstring our entire country by saying you can be sued for something that you develop if you develop it according to standards. Um, this is, this is perfect. And, and, uh, like, like the, uh, sponsor stated, if Ford develops a a vehicle and you run the vehicle off the cliff, you shouldn't be able to turn around and sue Ford because they made the vehicle. Um, we, we have to protect our manufacturing. That's what's what makes the United States the greatest country in the world. So I, I applaud the, uh, the sponsor for bringing this bill forward.

  7. Speaker (presiding)44:25

     Thank you Representative Shelley for the discussion to the bill.

  8. Speaker (presiding)44:28

     Representative Eliason, Joey or Stevie. Listen,

  9. Rep. Steve Eliason44:32

     Uh, th thank you Mr. Speaker. I Verizon in support of this bill, I'll, I'll say that I am a very strong supporter of responsible gun ownership. And Utah has, is lead of the, led the nation in a lot of ways of providing trigger locks and education about the importance of safely firearms. But as I was reviewing this bill, I was reminded, uh, many years ago, one of my clients was a, a very large firearms manufacturer and, uh, was auditing their, their, the company. And I was reading their product liability claims and I read about, uh, a couple who decided to take a shotgun to bed with them. And, uh, somehow in the course of the, uh, the night, uh, the shotgun went off and there wasn't just one victim. The there was two and they were suing because, uh, they, they, you know, I guess somebody should have told them that you shouldn't take a loaded shotgun to bed. It's reminiscent of these, you know, you, you can't legislate common sense. And even if somebody doesn't, you know, like firearms or support the Second Amendment, um, there's, I think this bill sends a clear message. It's about individual responsibility, not the inherent object itself and that this is a common sense way to reduce, uh, frivolous legislation. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

  10. Speaker (presiding)45:57

      Thank you Representative Eliason. Uh, back to your Representative Teuscher for summation.

  11. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher46:02

      Thank you Mr. Speaker. I appreciate, uh, the discussion here to some of the concerns that were raised by the good, uh, representative from Salt Lake County. Lawsuits are still allowed if there is injury or death as a result of omission by the manufacturer, that that constitutes gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Again, if they are bad actors, if they're out advertising and trying to get people to use their guns in a way, uh, that is un torn, they certainly are still liable for that. But what we're trying to do is protect companies, especially Utah companies that manufacture these weapons that are putting out a product that are doing it in a safe and responsible way, that they're not open to these frivolous lawsuits. That's what this bill does. It's common sense. It's something that's supported bipartisan, uh, as you saw on committee and, and in other states that have passed similar um, laws. And so I urge your support. Thank you. Thank

  12. Speaker (presiding)46:56

      You. Representative Teuscher voting will now be open on first substitute HB two 14. See now president having voted voting is now closed. First substitute HB two 14 passed this body of 61 Yes votes 12 no votes will be, uh, sent to the Senate for further consideration. Okay, representatives that will conclude our items on the house served reading calendar, uh, we do have a rules committee report that we need to adopt.

• Feb 17, 2026 Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee▶ Watch
• Feb 19, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Sen. David P. Hinkins19:09

     Thank Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill amends the provisions that requires, uh, for certain claims arising from a firearm or a related item, uh, brought against a seller or a manufacturer of a firearm or firearm related item. Uh, trade association and for certain rising claims from a firearm, uh, requires a court to dismiss claims that fail to meet specific requirements. And so what it's, this bill basically does is, uh, holds manufacturers of firearms, uh, harmless because someone uses it in an appropriate manner. And so I'm open to questions.

  2. Senate President (presiding)19:48

     Thank you. Senator Kins say no questions to you for action. Call the question. Thank you.

  3. Senate President (presiding)19:56

     The question is, shall first substitute House Bill two 14? Be read a third time. Roll call vote.

  4. Senate clerk20:02

     Senator Vickers Baldry Lein Brammer bus Comore es Camilla Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Kins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson. Aye. Quan McKay. Macl. Aye. Milner Musselman Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Strat Stratton Bickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton bus Aye.

  5. Senate President (presiding)21:10

     First substitute house Bill two 14. Having received 20 yay votes. Seven A votes, two being absent shall be read a third time. First substitute house bill two 14, excuse me. House bill 2 91 House bill 2 91, security and land restriction amendments.

• Feb 20, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Sen. David P. Hinkins46:09

     Senator Hinkins, uh, Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill basically holds, uh, firearm manufacturers and, uh, related items against, uh, so that the seller and the manufacturers are held harmless from, uh, things that somebody that may have bought their product does something stupid with it. And so that holds them harmless from that. And so with that, I'm open to questions.

  2. Senate President (presiding)46:37

     See no questions. I'm going back to you. Senator Hinkins for a motion. All the question. Question is,

  3. Senate President (presiding)46:43

     shall first substitute House Bill two 14 pass, roll call Vote. Senator Vickers, bald Senator Vickers Baldy Blue in Bremmer Bus Colmore Escamilla Fillmore a Grover Harper Kinins Ipson Johnson Quan McKay. Mikel Milner Musman Owens Pitcher Johnson Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers. Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. President Adams. Oh, bus President Adams Aye. First substitute house Bill two 14. Having received 19 yay votes, six nay votes, four being absent passes. This body will be signed by the President and returned to the house for the signature of the speaker house Bill 2 91

  4. Sen. Ann Millner48:11speaker not certain

     Thank you Mr. President.