HB316 • 2026

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.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES GRAY, Carrick
Last action: 2026-04-29
Official status: (H) FIN
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact effective date of the bill is not provided in the official summary.

Adjusting Damage Limits for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

This act adjusts the limits for damages that can be awarded for personal injuries or wrongful deaths based on inflation.

What This Bill Does

Sets a limit of $400,000 or life expectancy in years multiplied by $8,000 (whichever is higher) for damages awarded for a single injury or death.
Increases this limit to $1,000,000 or life expectancy in years multiplied by $25,000 if the injuries are severe and permanent.
Adjusts these limits annually based on inflation using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for urban Alaska.

Who It Names or Affects

People who suffer personal injuries or wrongful deaths.
Courts that award damages to injured people or their families.

Terms To Know

Inflation: The increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money over time.
Consumer Price Index (CPI): A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, providing an indicator of the cost of living.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of inflation adjustment is not specified in this act.
It does not specify when the changes will take effect.

Bill History

2026-04-29 Alaska State Legislature
(H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
2026-04-29 Alaska State Legislature
(H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
2026-04-24 2277
(H) FN2: ZERO(AJS)
2026-04-24 2277
(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM)
2026-04-24 2277
(H) AM: SADDLER, D.NELSON
2026-04-24 2277
(H) NR: FIELDS
2026-04-24 2277
(H) DP: FRIER, CARRICK, HALL
2026-04-24 2277
(H) L&C RPT 3DP 1NR 2AM
2026-04-22 Text
(H) Moved HB 316 Out of Committee
2026-04-22 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-15 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-04-15 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-15 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Meeting Postponed from 3:15 pm 4/13/2026--
2026-04-15 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
2026-04-13 Text
(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Meeting Postponed to 8:00 am 4/15/2026--
2026-04-13 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-08 Text
(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
2026-04-08 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-01 2025
(H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK
2026-03-30 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-03-30 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-03-16 1855
(H) FN2: ZERO(AJS)
2026-03-16 1855
(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM)
2026-03-16 1855
(H) NR: UNDERWOOD, VANCE
2026-03-16 1855
(H) DP: MINA, EISCHEID, GRAY
2026-03-16 1855
(H) JUD RPT 3DP 2NR
2026-03-13 Text
(H) Moved HB 316 Out of Committee
2026-03-13 Text
(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2026-03-06 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-03-06 Text
(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2026-02-18 1645
(H) JUD, L&C
2026-02-18 1645
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0316a -1- HB 316
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1463\I

HOUSE BILL NO. 316

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES GRAY, Carrick

Introduced: 2/18/26
Referred: Judiciary, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act adjusting for inflation the limit for damages for losses that may be awarded for 1
a personal injury or wrongful death." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 09.17.010(b) is amended to read: 4
(b) Except as provided under (c) of this section, the damages awarded by a 5
court or a jury under (a) of this section for all claims, including a loss of consortium 6
claim, arising out of a single injury or death may not exceed $400,000 or the injured 7
person's life expectancy in years multiplied by $8,000, adjusted under (e) of this 8
section, whichever is greater. 9
* Sec. 2. AS 09.17.010(c) is amended to read: 10
(c) In an action for personal injury, the damages awarded by a court or jury 11
that are described under (b) of this section may not exceed $1,000,000 or the person's 12
life expectancy in years multiplied by $25,000, whichever is greater, adjusted under 13
(e) of this section, when the damages are awarded for severe permanent physical 14
34-LS1463\I
HB 316 -2- HB0316a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

impairment or severe disfigurement. 1
* Sec. 3. AS 09.17.010 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 2
(e) The maximum amount of damages specified under (b) and (c) of this 3
section shall be adjusted for inflation using 100 percent of the change since 1997 in 4
the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for urban Alaska, compiled by the 5
Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. 6
* Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 7
read: 8
APPLICABILITY. Sections 1 - 3 of this Act apply to damages awarded on or after the 9
effective date of this Act. 10