Senate Judiciary Committee advances bill requiring disclosure of third‑party litigation funding

The Senate Judiciary Committee on an amended voice vote advanced the senate substitute for Senate Bill 54, which would require parties in civil cases to disclose third‑party litigation funding agreements to the court and to other parties and direct the Judicial Council to study and report on the topic.

The motion to move the bill out of committee was made by Senator Shane and seconded by Senator Bowser; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The substitute directs a party that has a third‑party litigation funding agreement to provide the agreement to the court within 30 days after the action is commenced or within 30 days after the agreement is executed, whichever is later, and to serve a sworn statement on the other parties within the same 30‑day period listing required information about the funding…