Covid Liability Protection Bills

Thursday, the Senate approved a bill that would provide liability protection for first responders, medical providers, and business owners against lawsuits arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill author and North Richland Hills Senator Kelly Hancock told members that this bill, SB 6, will help the state continue to re-open safely and help get the economy on track by protecting people acting in good faith from frivolous lawsuits. "[It] supports the heroes that have been on the front lines fighting this pandemic from the beginning with supplies non-existent and the effects still unknown," he said. He said that this bill isn't intended to shield negligent or malicious actors. "This is not an immunity bill," said Hancock.

With exceptions for reckless action or willful misconduct, this bill would prevent first responders or medical workers sued for injuries or death arising from "care, treatment, or failure to provide care or treatment" to individuals with a pandemic disease, such as COVID-19. Business owners who are following local mitigation protocols would be also be protected from such lawsuits. The bill does not protect businesses that knowingly disregard lawful mitigation protocols. "We're not looking to protect the bad actors in the industry," said Hancock. "We want to protect those who are doing things right, doing things properly." The bill would apply retroactively to the beginning of the pandemic.