Today, the Florida House passed the business COVID-19 liability protections bill, HB 7 by Representative McClure, with a bipartisan vote of 83-31. This bill sends a signal of confidence for businesses that are doing their part to keep employees and customers safe that they will not be a party to the litigation. The Lakeland Chamber thanks Representative Lawrence McClure, Speaker Chris Sprowls, and our entire Polk County House Delegation for ensuring this bill passed the House during the first week of the 60-day legislative session.
COVID-19 continued to dominate discussions before the legislature this week with all four COVID-19 liability protection bills seeing movement this week:
• SB 72 by Senator Jeff Brandes, the Senate companion of HB 7, passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, and has one stop remaining before it heads to the Senate Floor.
• SB 74, by Senator Jeff Brandes, protects health care providers from COVID-19 related claims and passed the Senate Health Policy Committee.
• HB 7005, the House companion of SB 74 by Representative Colleen Burton, passed the House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee.
The Lakeland Chamber and our partners at the Florida Chamber are proud to stand in support of these important bills that allow for commonsense protections for our local businesses.
Both SB 74 and HB 7005 have one committee hearing remaining before they are ready to be heard by their respective chambers on the floor.