Bill
HD 1980
Summary of HD 1980: An Act relative to governmental and charitable tort liability Bill OverviewHD 1980, titled "An Act relative to governmental and charitable tort liability", is a
HD 1980, titled "An Act relative to governmental and charitable tort liability", is a proposed bill that aims to modify the liability protections for governmental entities and charitable organizations in tort lawsuits.
The main provisions of HD 1980 include:
Expanded Liability for Governmental Entities: The bill would decrease the liability protections currently afforded to state and local governmental bodies, allowing them to be sued for a wider range of negligent actions that result in injury or damage.
Charitable Organization Liability: The legislation would also limit the liability protections for non-profit charitable organizations, subjecting them to greater legal exposure in tort claims.
Damage Award Caps: HD 1980 proposes to impose strict caps on the monetary damages that can be awarded against governmental entities and charities in successful tort lawsuits. The proposed cap is $2 million per individual claim and $10 million in aggregate for a single incident.
Statute of Limitations: The bill would extend the statute of limitations for filing tort claims against governmental bodies and charities from the current 2 years to 4 years.
The primary parties that would be impacted by the passage of HD 1980 include:
State and Local Governments: Cities, counties, school districts, and other governmental entities would face increased legal exposure and liability risk.
Non-Profit Charitable Organizations: Charities, foundations, and other non-profit groups would lose some of their current protections against tort lawsuits.
Individuals Seeking to Sue: Plaintiffs pursuing tort claims against governmental bodies or charities would benefit from the expanded liability and extended statute of limitations, but would be limited by the damage award caps.
HD 1980 was introduced in the state legislature on November 29, 2025. It has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee for review and consideration. No timeline has been set for when the bill may advance through the legislative process or come up for a vote.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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