Florida House Advances Legislation Regarding Employer Civil Liability for Damages related to COVID-19

On March 5, 2021, Florida’s House passed HB 7. If ratified by the Senate and signed by the Governor, the bill would provide broad immunity to non-health care related businesses against employee personal injury cases arising from COVID-19 lawsuits in Florida. House Speaker Chris Sprowls has emphasized that similar protection for health care related businesses is also priority but that is being addressed through a separate House bill (HB 7005).

The essence of these bills appear to have the support of the Florida Senate as well as the governor; however, some communications out of Tallahassee suggests that the Senate may combine the proposed COVID-19 related legal protections for both non-health care businesses (SB 72) and for health care providers (SB 74) into one bill.