UT SB0292: Autonomous Systems Amendments

In one paragraph

Utah's SB 292 limits civil liability for automated driving systems (ADS). Noneconomic damages in actions over ADS-equipped vehicles are capped at $1,000,000 (not for wrongful death), with no punitive damages for level four or five ADS. People hurt by a driverless level four or five vehicle may sue its owner or dispatcher without proving negligence or defect, but recovery is capped at $100,000. Makers and developers of level four or five ADS are shielded from negligence claims and face product liability under stricter defect rules and a state-of-the-art defense. Signed March 23, 2026; effective May 6, 2026; the limits are repealed July 1, 2030.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

No new compliance duties. AV makers, ADS developers and robotaxi operators in Utah get capped damages and narrower liability; owners and dispatchers of driverless vehicles face claims of up to $100,000 that need no proof of negligence. The limits end July 1, 2030.

Key provisions

1. 1Updates the Title 41, Chapter 26 definitions (ADS-equipped vehicle; level three, four and five ADS per SAE J3016, April 2021) and makes the ADS responsible for compliant operation of any ADS-equipped vehicle while engaged (§ 41-26-104)
2. 2Noneconomic damages in an action relating to an ADS-equipped or ADS-dedicated vehicle may not exceed $1,000,000, except wrongful death claims; no punitive damages in actions relating to a level four or five ADS (§ 78B-4-902)
3. 3A person injured or whose property is damaged by a level four or five ADS performing the entire driving task may sue the registered owner or the dispatcher (including an on-demand autonomous vehicle network) by proving the ADS was engaged and a proximate cause, without proving negligence or defect (§ 78B-4-903)
4. 4Total recovery in that action, including damages, costs and fees, may not exceed $100,000, may be reduced for the claimant's or a third party's fault, and is the exclusive civil remedy once recovered
5. 5Manufacturers and developers of level four or five ADS are not liable in negligence; they can be held liable only under § 78B-4-903 or the Utah Product Liability Act, and negligent-design claims are treated as product liability claims (§ 78B-4-904)
6. 6A level four or five ADS is defective only if the plaintiff proves a reasonable alternative design existed and the ADS, at scale, causes more injuries than humans doing a similar task; it is rebuttably presumed non-defective if it meets federal vehicle safety standards and was authorized in Utah (§ 78B-6-703)
7. 7Liability is precluded if the maker or developer complied with state-of-the-art knowledge at manufacture or the ADS reduces injuries in the aggregate compared with humans (§ 78B-6-708); Part 9 and these product-liability provisions are repealed July 1, 2030 (§ 63I-1-278)
8. 8Signed March 23, 2026; effective May 6, 2026

Latest legislative action

Mar 23, 2026. Governor Signed

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 7)