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S 4792

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Ashley Moody

The bill bars civil actions against stone slab manufacturers or sellers for injuries from third-party fabrication involving silica, shielding the supply chain.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4792

Overview

S 4792, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act of 2026, would shield manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products from civil actions arising from injuries allegedly caused by third-party fabrication activities involving silica exposure. The bill aims to preserve the availability of stone slab products in interstate and foreign commerce by limiting liability tied to how third parties fabricate or alter those products.

Main purpose and intent

  • Prohibit civil actions against manufacturers and sellers for injuries linked to silica exposure that occur during third-party fabrication of stone slab products.
  • Protect the broader stone slab supply chain from frivolous or unintended liability claims that target upstream actors for harms caused by others’ handling or safety failures.
  • Preserve consumer access to stone slab products and safeguard tens of thousands of related jobs.
  • Prevent encroachment on interstate and foreign commerce by limiting industry-wide liability.

Key provisions and changes

  • Prohibition on qualified civil actions: A qualified civil action may not be brought in federal or state court.
  • Dismissal of existing actions: Any qualified civil action pending at enactment must be dismissed as soon as practicable.
  • Definitions:
    • Fabrication: Altering a qualified product by cutting, drilling, shaping, polishing, grinding, etc.
    • Qualified civil action: A civil action against a manufacturer or seller for harm related to silicosis or exposure to crystalline silica during fabrication (excluding actions where the manufacturer/seller was the employee of the injured party).
    • Qualified product: A stone slab product (including quartz, mineral, crystal, glass, porcelain, or similar materials) transported in interstate/foreign commerce and subject to occupational health and safety regulations related to respirable silica.
    • Seller: Importer, distributor, retailer, or supplier of a qualified product.
    • State: Broadly includes U.S. states and various territories and possessions.
  • Scope of protection: The shield covers injuries arising from third-party fabrication, not injuries to workers/employees of the fabricator (as the employee’s employer is excluded from qualified actions).

Who is affected

  • Manufacturers and sellers of qualified stone slab products (e.g., countertop materials) would be protected from civil liability for injuries tied to third-party fabrication-related silica exposure.
  • Third-party fabricators and their workers remain governed by existing workplace safety laws and may still be subject to other regulatory actions.
  • Consumers and plaintiffs seeking related damages would face barriers to bringing such civil actions under this act.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Effective upon enactment: Any qualified civil action pending at enactment must be dismissed promptly.
  • Proceedings barred going forward: No new qualified civil actions may be filed in federal or state courts.

Additional notes

  • The bill’s sponsor is Ashley Moody (co-sponsor listed).
  • The legislative action history shows introduction and referral to the Judiciary Committee as of mid-2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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