Sponsors (17)
The bill limits manufacturers' and sellers' liability and clarifies coverage to protect industry and reduce legal uncertainty, but it does so by narrowing private civil remedies — increasing risks that injured workers and consumers will bear costs and that regulators, courts, and taxpayers will absorb enforcement and care burdens.
Small manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of stone slab products face reduced civil liability for silica-related injuries caused by third-party fabricators, helping preserve businesses, jobs, and the steady supply of stone slab materials.
Businesses and jurisdictions get clearer statutory coverage about which products, actions, and territories are included, reducing cross‑border legal uncertainty for sellers shipping stone slab products interstate or to territories.
Responsibility for preventing and addressing silica exposure is pushed toward fabricators and regulators, reinforcing existing workplace safety frameworks and focusing enforcement activity on fabrication sites.
Individuals who would have brought or are bringing 'qualified civil actions' lose the ability to sue in federal or state court; pending suits classified as such will be dismissed, denying currently filed plaintiffs access to judicial remedies.
Workers and others harmed by silica exposure will have reduced avenues to recover damages and may face higher out-of-pocket costs because manufacturer/seller liability is narrowed or barred.
Removing or limiting upstream liability reduces incentives for manufacturers and sellers to pressure fabricators to follow safe handling practices, increasing occupational health risks from respirable silica exposure.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits lawsuits against manufacturers/sellers for injuries caused by third‑party fabrication of stone slab products and requires dismissal of pending qualifying suits.
Official title: To prohibit civil actions brought against a manufacturer or seller of a stone slab product for harm resulting from the alteration of such a product by a fabricator, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 17, 2025 by Tom McClintock · Last progress September 17, 2025
Bars lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products (for example, kitchen countertops) for injuries that arise from fabrication done by third parties (cutting, grinding, polishing, etc.). It directs courts to dismiss pending civil suits of that type after the law takes effect and defines key terms like “fabrication,” “qualified product,” and “qualified civil action.” The intent is to shield firms in interstate and foreign commerce from liability for harms caused by third‑party fabricators and to preserve supply chains and industry employment.