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Mo. Senate passes COVID-19 bill to protect employers

By Madison Parry

A bill designed to defend Missouri employers from opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits has passed the Senate with a vote of 20-13, and now goes to the House. If passed, Senate Bill 51 would stop lawsuits targeting businesses over alleged exposure to COVID-19.

A big step toward employer protection during the era of COVID-19 has made progress with the advancement of a COVID-19 lawsuit bill in Missouri.

In a 20-13 vote, the Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 51, designed to stop lawsuits targeting businesses over alleged exposure to COVID-19. The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives.

Hundreds of opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits have been filed against employers in the state since March 2020, and thousands more nationwide. Several states have already enacted some form of protection against these lawsuits.

While the bill has made progress, without a confirming vote from the House, Missouri employers remain vulnerable to opportunistic COVID-19 litigation.

One of the largest supporters of the bill comes from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has served a strong push behind efforts to take action since April 2020.

“If we want to restart our economy and recover from this pandemic, we must protect Missouri employers from opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. The threat of this litigation looms over every employer in Missouri,” President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Daniel P. Mehan, said.

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (Republican from Parkville) and Sen. Bill White (Republican from Joplin). Supporters are advocating that senators adopt an emergency clause on the bill, which would allow the bill to go into effect immediately once signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson.

 

Posted 02/23/2021