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Heated hearing on SB 779 — proposal to limit public‑nuisance claims draws fierce opposition from local governments and trial lawyers
Summary
Senate Bill 779, designed to curb what sponsors called the "weaponization" of public‑nuisance law, drew extensive opposition from trial lawyers, county attorneys and environmental advocates who said the bill would remove a long‑standing remedy for large, diffuse harms such as opioid and water quality crises.
Senate Bill 779, authored by Senator Brandon Middleton, would narrow the scope of common‑law public‑nuisance claims so that activities authorized or regulated by federal, state, or local law could not be the basis for such claims. Proponents said public‑nuisance lawsuits have been used in other states to regulate lawful industries through litigation and to impose what they called "lawfare" instead of pursuing changes through the Legislature.
Opponents said the bill is broader than proponents claimed and would curtail traditional, centuries‑old causes of action…
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