This bill proposes a new legal framework for civil actions involving commercial motor vehicles that require a commercial driver's license. It allows a defendant to request the dismissal of any claims of their direct negligence if they can stipulate that the individual whose negligence is being alleged was either their employee or independent contractor acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the incident. The stipulations must confirm that the alleged negligent party was indeed working for the defendant when the damages occurred.

Furthermore, if the defendant successfully makes these stipulations and it is determined that the employee or independent contractor's negligence contributed to the damages, the defendant's liability will be assessed solely under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This means that the defendant would not be held directly liable for the actions of their employee or contractor, shifting the focus of liability to the relationship between the parties involved. The bill also clarifies that the term "commercial motor vehicle" is defined as per existing law in section 60-316.