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Senate raises small‑claims threshold for breach-of-contract cases to $15,000
Summary
The Senate advanced first substitute SB 213 to raise the small‑claims court cap for breach‑of‑contract claims from $10,000 to $15,000 (applies only to breach-of-contract claims). Sponsors said the change will ease district court workloads; the measure passed on the floor after a cleanup amendment.
Senators moved to advance first substitute Senate Bill 213, which would increase the dollar limit for breach-of-contract claims in small-claims court from $10,000 to $15,000. The sponsor said the change targets breach-of-contract cases — the majority of small-claims filings — and would shift smaller civil matters out of district court, lowering filing cost barriers for litigants.
During floor discussion senators asked whether raising the cap could increase burdens on small-claims dockets or change patterns of attorney involvement. The sponsor replied the change applies only to breach-of-contract claims and noted small-claims proceedings remain less expensive than district court ($360 filing fee in district court versus a fraction of that in small claims) and that mediation resources are often available at small-claims hearings.
A cleanup amendment (described as deleting duplicative language) was offered and adopted on the floor. The clerk announced that the first substitute for SB 213 had received 25 yay votes, 0 nay votes and thereby was advanced for further consideration.
What’s next: SB 213 was readied for third reading after adoption of the amendment and will return for final consideration on a subsequent floor calendar.
