Bill > H3744

This bill amends a law concerning the sale, delivery, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 years old, often referred to as the "social host statute." Specifically, it adds a provision that makes individuals liable in a civil lawsuit for any monetary damages resulting from personal injuries, deaths, or property damage that are directly caused by illegally providing alcohol to someone underage. This liability extends even to injuries or deaths of the underage person who received the alcohol illegally. Importantly, the bill clarifies that the underage person's consumption of the illegally provided alcohol cannot be used as a defense in such a lawsuit, regardless of how it's argued (e.g., as negligence or comparative fault). Furthermore, these changes are made to apply retroactively, meaning they will affect any civil lawsuits already in progress when the bill becomes law.