SB2481 Summary

• Increases the tort damages cap against the State from $100,000 to $2,000,000 for claims filed on or after July 1, 2015, with no cap for cases involving State vehicle operations.

• Requires annual adjustment of the $2,000,000 tort damages cap based on Consumer Price Index increases (capped at 5% per year), with the Comptroller publishing adjusted amounts by January 31 annually.

• Raises the threshold for small claims record maintenance from $5,000 to $50,000 and increases the immediate payment threshold for awards from $5,000 to $50,000.

• Corrects statute references in Section 22(g) regarding replacement warrant claims to reference the date of the Comptroller's refusal rather than the warrant issue date.

• Adds mandatory awards for unjust imprisonment claims (Section 8(c)) to the list of claims eligible for immediate payment by the Court.