Limiting Liability for Critical Infrastructure Manufacturers Act

This bill would shield companies that make “critical infrastructure” equipment from most lawsuits tied to wildfires. People or groups could not sue these manufacturers for losses “caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from” wildfire incidents, unless they can prove the company engaged in willful misconduct in designing or producing the equipment. The protection would apply under both federal and state law. “Critical infrastructure” uses the definition in federal law, and “manufacturer” follows the definition for the critical manufacturing sector under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022.

In plain terms, if this became law, victims of wildfires generally could not hold equipment makers for key infrastructure responsible in court, unless they can show the company knowingly did something wrong in its design or production choices.

• Who is affected: Makers of critical infrastructure equipment, and people or businesses seeking damages after wildfires.
• What changes: Broad legal immunity for these manufacturers for wildfire-related claims, except when there is willful misconduct in design or production.
• When: The text does not specify timing beyond creating this immunity if enacted.