State Sen. Jeanie Riddle, District 10, is seeking to protect Missouri manufacturers from liability on products more than 10 years old.A bill proposed by Riddle for the state’s 2017 legislative session would limit personal injury lawsuits to 10 years after the sale of a product related to the injury.For example, a tractor manufacturer would no longer be liable for injuries related to a machine sold in 1950.“We have manufacturers in this state that produce a wonderful product that lasts for decades,” Riddle said. “As it changes hands, there’s no way to make sure (owners) are following the safety standards.”Another upside to the bill, Riddle said, is that if manufacturers don’t have to keep as much money on hand to fight lawsuits on decades-old equipment, they could put that money toward expanding or hiring more employees.One time limit the bill doesn’t change is the manufacturer’s own warranty — a lifetime guarantee is still a lifetime guarantee. It also doesn’t protect manufacturers that knowingly conceal a defect in their product or provide negligent service.The 2017 legislative session began Jan. 4. Riddle’s manufacturer protection bill is Senate Bill 220.Vehicle, health standardsRiddle prefiled four other bills for the start of the 2017 session.SB 221 clarifies when a vehicle LED light assembly is deemed to be defective. LED (light-emitting diode) assemblies can contain many diodes, rather than just one bulb like in a standard vehicle light.Riddle said constituents contacted her after being required by state inspections to replace entire assemblies with only one or two diodes out, while the light as a whole still works. SB 221 would clarify that an LED light assembly is deemed operational as long as 75 percent of the diodes are active.Riddle said she hopes the bill will help vehicle owners save money where safety isn’t affected.SB 221 and SB 229 are aimed at helping Missouri’s Department of Mental Health. SB 221 would grant the department legal standing to attend hearings related to involuntary medication of patients accused of crimes. SB 229 allows the department to extend employee’s maximum daily hours on days when Daylight Saving Time changes.SB 230 states that agencies which refer patients for out-of-state abortions must provide those patients with the same printed material they would receive before getting an abortion in Missouri.Sen. Jeanie Riddle