Senate pauses proposal to raise small-claims cap from $11,000 to $15,000 pending fiscal review

Senators on Feb. 3, 2022, heard a presentation on House Bill 107, which would raise the small-claims jurisdictional cap from about $11,000 to $15,000. Senator Weiler, who presented the measure, said the change responded to requests from the Utah Bar and would help people avoid costly attorney fees for small disputes.

During discussion the sponsor explained the intent as an access-to-justice measure, saying attorneys can be prohibitively expensive for small claims. Later on the floor Senator Ibsen moved to table the bill on third reading to allow time for a fiscal-note review; the motion to table was adopted and the bill was placed on the tabled-on-third calendar for further consideration.

The chamber recorded the procedural action to table rather than final passage, so the jurisdictional cap change will not take effect unless the sponsor brings the bill back and the fiscal concerns are resolved.