14-Utah Code §63G-6a-1203.pdf
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- Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Utah
About this file
This file contains Utah Code Section 63G-6a-1203, which establishes provisions governing void and unenforceable clauses in procurement contracts entered into by Utah governmental entities and procurement units, effective May 7, 2025. The statute applies to all new procurement contracts and does not affect contracts that became operative or enforceable before the effective date or their extensions or renewals. The code identifies nine categories of contractual provisions that are automatically void and unenforceable, including those that restrict the state's governmental immunity protections, require governmental entities to indemnify or defend other parties, subject entities to binding arbitration or non-Utah jurisdiction, limit counsel selection rights, allow unilateral vendor modifications, impose insurance requirements beyond state risk manager standards, or cap vendor liability for negligence or willful misconduct. The statute preserves the severability of remaining valid contract provisions despite the voiding of prohibited clauses.
The code provides two limited exemption mechanisms that allow certain prohibited provisions to remain enforceable when specific conditions are met. An assistant attorney general or authorized legal counsel may exempt contracts from non-Utah jurisdiction and venue requirements if a signed, express written authorization is executed prior to contract formation and the exemption is deemed necessary to promote the state or procurement unit's interests due to disproportionate bargaining positions, market conditions, or other unique circumstances. Additionally, a procurement official may exempt contracts from insurance and automatic renewal provisions if the contract explicitly references this section and indicates the procurement unit's intent to include such provisions. The statute further provides that under no circumstances may the state or any procurement unit be held liable for special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages arising from any procurement contract, establishing an absolute damages limitation for governmental entities.
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Utah Code
Effective 5/7/2025 63G-6a-1203 Void and unenforceable provisions of a contract -- Exemptions -- Limitation of liability and damages.
(1) As used in this section, "governmental entity" means the same as that term is defined in
Section 63G-7-102.
(2) This section does not apply to:
(a) a procurement contract that becomes operative or enforceable before the effective date of this section; or
(b) the extension or renewal of a contract described in Subsection (2)(a).
(3)
(a) Except as provided under Subsections (5) and (6), a provision of a procurement contract described in Subsection (4), including a provision incorporated into the contract by reference, is void and unenforceable.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of a procurement contract that is void and unenforceable under Subsection (3)(a), the remaining provisions of the contract are severable, valid, and enforceable to the fullest extent provided under Utah law.
(4) A provision is void and unenforceable under Subsection (3)(a) if the provision:
(a) restricts the state's or a procurement unit's protection under Chapter 7, Governmental
Immunity Act of Utah, from suit, liability, judgment, or obligation, including an obligation to respond to or defend against any claim;
(b) requires a governmental entity to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless another person;
(c) restricts a governmental entity's ability to seek relief in state court;
(d) subjects a governmental entity to binding arbitration or other form of dispute resolution outside the courts;
(e) disallows the procurement unit from having legal counsel and representation from:
(i) legal counsel that the procurement unit chooses;
(ii) the attorney general; or
(iii) legal counsel chosen by a person that has a contractual obligation to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless the state or a procurement unit, subject to the written consent of the state or the procurement unit;
(f) subject to Subsection (5):
(i) subjects a procurement contract or a party to the contract to the laws of any jurisdiction other than Utah; or
(ii) requires the parties to resolve a dispute in a jurisdiction or venue other than Utah;
(g) restricts a governmental entity from making disclosures of information, as required by law or for any legitimate governmental purpose;
(h) allows a vendor to unilaterally modify any part of the procurement contract, including any provision to which the contract contemplates giving legal effect upon the vendor providing notice to the procurement unit of the modification or of the created legal effect; and
(i) subject to Subsection (6):
(i) requires a governmental entity to maintain insurance coverage beyond the types and limits required by the state risk manager appointed under Section 63A-4-101.5, or to name an additional insured under that coverage;
(ii) allows a vendor to automatically renew a procurement contract or that creates a contractual term in violation of the terms permitted under Section 63G-6a-1204; or
(iii) limits the liability of a vendor or any third-party for bodily injury, death, or damage to tangible property caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of a vendor, a third-party, or the vendor's or third-party's employees or agents.
Utah Code
(5) The assistant attorney general or authorized legal counsel for the procurement unit that will sign a procurement contract may, via a signed, express, written authorization made prior to the formation of the contract, exempt the contract from a provision described in Subsection (4)(f), if the assistant attorney general or authorized legal counsel determines that an exemption is necessary to promote the best interests of the state or the procurement unit due to:
(a) the relative disproportionate bargaining positions of the contracting parties;
(b) market conditions; or
(c) other unique circumstances identified and described in the authorization.
(6) The procurement official for a procurement unit seeking to enter into a procurement contract may, via a signed, express, written authorization made prior to the formation of the contract, exempt the contract from a provision described in Subsection (4)(i), if the contract indicates the procurement unit's intent to include the provision, with explicit reference to this section.
(7) Notwithstanding any provision of a procurement contract to the contrary, under no circumstance may the state or a procurement unit be held liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages arising from or relating to a procurement contract.
Amended by Chapter 69, 2025 General Session
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