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HB316

HB 316: Adjusting Damage Limits for Inflation

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This bill updates the maximum money a court can award in personal injury or wrongful death cases by adjusting current limits based on inflation since 1997.

What it does

  • Adjusts damage limits using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in urban Alaska, compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Updates the standard limit from $400,000 or life expectancy times $8,000 to an inflation-adjusted amount based on changes since 1997.
  • Updates the higher limit for severe permanent physical impairment or disfigurement from $1,000,000 or life expectancy times $25,000 to an inflation-adjusted amount.

Who it affects

  • People filing lawsuits for personal injury in Alaska courts.
  • Families filing wrongful death claims.
  • Courts and juries deciding damage awards that include loss of consortium claims arising from a single injury or death.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law only applies to damages awarded on or after its effective date.
  • The exact new dollar amounts are not listed in the text because they depend on future inflation data calculations.
  • While the bill passed both chambers, an official effective date is not provided in this document.

Plain language

Terms to know

Damages
Money awarded by a court for harm caused by an injury or death, including losses like companionship support (loss of consortium).
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
A measure used to track price changes over time; this bill uses the CPI for urban Alaska since 1997.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

ADJUST DAMAGE LIMIT: PERS INJ/WRG DTH An Act adjusting for inflation the limit for damages for losses that may be awarded for a personal injury or wrongful death.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE2344
  2. (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C2344
  3. (H) FN2: ZERO(AJS)2277
  4. (H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM)2277
  5. (H) AM: SADDLER, D.NELSON2277
  6. (H) NR: FIELDS2277
  7. (H) DP: FRIER, CARRICK, HALL2277
  8. (H) L&C RPT 3DP 1NR 2AM2277
  9. (H) Moved HB 316 Out of CommitteeText
  10. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  11. (H) Heard & HeldText
  12. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  13. (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Meeting Postponed from 3:15 pm 4/13/2026--Text
  14. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM BARNES 124Text
  15. (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Meeting Postponed to 8:00 am 4/15/2026--Text
  16. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  17. (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --Text
  18. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  19. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK2025
  20. (H) Heard & HeldText