NFIB State Director Dawn Starns released the following statement today on Senate Bill 3049, legislation that would protect small businesses and others from unfair and frivolous lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill will be heard this morning in Senate Judiciary A.
“When we surveyed our members last month about the issues that concerned them about reopening, over two-thirds said increased liability. There’s no question that the shutdown helped slow the spread of the coronavirus, but being forced to close or limit operations had a devastating effect on small businesses.
“The reopening process may be well underway, but small businesses are still vulnerable. That’s why it’s essential that the legislature take action to protect employers from lawsuits that try to exploit the pandemic. The cost of fending off even one bogus claim could be enough to force a small business to close its doors for good.”