A House bill intending to protect people and organizations from COVID-related lawsuits is heading to the full Senate.
People infected with the disease would not be able to sue for damages without proof of intentional exposure.
Republican Mike Diedrich is the lead Senate sponsor. He says protections do not extend to cases that constitute gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.
“If you did everything you could with the best science you knew at that time, you should not be liable unless you intentionally exposed someone with the intent to give them COVID.”
Opponents say organizations like schools and hospitals could relax their COVID mitigation procedures with no chance to pursue future damages if the bill is passed.
Protections would begin from January 1st of 2020 through the end of 2022.
The bill passed unanimously out of the committee. Lawmakers will debate the proposal on the Senate floor.