Hobbs disagreed and noted that in 2003, the Utah Supreme Court said in another case, Grynberg v. Questar, that its original decision in the American Towers case was no longer appropriate. "That was the case where the Supreme Court said, 'We don't consider it to be good law anymore,'" he said.

Hobbs said he believes the state Supreme Court has been poised to overturn its previous decision as it applies to builders, and the Legislature is trying to do a "preemptive strike" before that reversal takes place.

He said some lawmakers with a vested interest in the building industry are trying to salvage the precedent that currently stands, which limits builders' exposure to potential litigation.

A Deseret Morning News analysis of campaign disclosure forms in January found that about 98 percent of the $848,000 in campaign money donated to 104 Utah legislators during 2007 came from special interests such as corporations, lobbyists and political action committees.

Among the biggest contributors were the Utah Association of Realtors at $37,360, and the Utah Home Builders Association's political action committee at $24,200, with a total of $76,700 in donations coming from the real estate/construction industry.

Bramble's records indicate he received $6,000 from the home builders' political action committee in 2007, 11 percent of his total contributions raised last year. Phone calls and e-mails from the Deseret Morning News to Bramble seeking comment Tuesday were not returned.

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Contributing: Nicole Warburton
E-mail: jlee@desnews.com