HB 68 - Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency Act

• Requires plaintiffs in asbestos actions to file all available asbestos trust claims within 30 days of filing suit and provide a sworn statement confirming an investigation was conducted.

• Plaintiffs must provide all parties with trust claim materials from the plaintiff and connected law firms, including claim forms, medical records, depositions, and resolution documents.

• Defendants may move the court 60 days before trial to require plaintiffs to file additional trust claims if they believe the plaintiff failed to file all available claims; court may stay the action until additional claims are filed.

• Trust claim materials and governance documents are admissible as evidence, presumed relevant and authentic, with no privilege protection; defendants may seek discovery from asbestos trusts.

• Defendants are entitled to a setoff against damages equal to amounts the plaintiff received or will receive from asbestos trusts, distributed proportionally among multiple defendants based on their liability.