Representative Katie Hall said the state is facing physician shortages and that pending tort‑reform proposals aim to reduce what she described as frivolous litigation that contributes to burnout and early departures from clinical practice.

"We have a doctor shortage going on in the state," Hall said, adding that she had been told there are roughly 500 physician job postings, primarily in family medicine and some specialties such as obstetrics. She said the reforms under discussion include measures to limit cases that a pre‑litigation panel has already found non‑meritorious while retaining remedies for patients harmed by malpractice.

Hall also said Utah currently maintains a cap on non‑economic damages and that sponsors seek to preserve that cap to help keep malpractice insurance rates lower. "We have a pretty good rate because we do have a cap on non economic damages right now," she said. At the same time, she said sponsors are trying to balance patients' rights to compensation when malpractice occurs.

Status and context: Hall described the effort as ongoing and "not all worked out"; she said stakeholders and lawmakers are seeking an approach that reduces unnecessary litigation without denying compensation to injured patients. She offered anecdotal reasons for concern — the time and mental strain of litigation on clinicians and the long training pipeline that makes early retirement costly for access to care.

Ending: Hall said the reforms are aimed at keeping physicians in practice and lowering the administrative and emotional toll litigation can impose while not preventing legitimate malpractice claims from being heard.