GOP Senate Drafting Bill to Expand Business Liability Protections

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) are working on legislation to expand liability protections for businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The bill is expected to be retroactive to 2019 and provide protection against COVID-19 lawsuits through 2024, and have new legal protections for businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and raise the liability threshold for medical malpractice lawsuits. 

Because there are conflicts among the safe-practices guidelines, businesses should be allowed to make their own determination about which guidelines they will follow, CDC guidelines, or a different federal, state or local governmental guide. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published detailed guidelines for reopening businesses that have been shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view the guidance.

Democrats have some willingness to consider liability protections for employers if they meet CDC guidelines, but will not agree to immunity provision for businesses that is crafted too broadly.

The motor fuels, heating fuels and convenience store industries are at the forefront of COVID-19 response efforts and should not have to worry about future lawsuits for providing needed products and services to American consumers. Please click here to urge your lawmakers for liability protection in a future COVID-19 response bill.

From PMAA