Bill > SB827

This bill modifies Oklahoma's law on damages in civil bodily injury cases by increasing the maximum limit on noneconomic damages from $350,000 to $500,000 and removing previous exceptions that allowed higher damages for cases involving reckless, grossly negligent, fraudulent, or intentional misconduct. The bill eliminates the detailed language defining terms like "gross negligence" and "reckless disregard" that were previously used to determine when higher damage limits could apply. Now, all civil bodily injury cases will be subject to the same $500,000 cap on noneconomic damages, regardless of the nature of the defendant's conduct. The bill maintains provisions requiring courts to separately specify economic and noneconomic damages, and continues to prohibit juries from being informed about damage limitations during trials. The law will apply to civil actions filed on or after November 1, 2025, and does not apply to actions under the Governmental Tort Claims Act or wrongful death claims. Noneconomic damages remain defined as intangible losses like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and other similar non-monetary harm arising from a bodily injury.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb827&Session=2600