NFIB State Director Bill Herrle released the following statement in response to Senate approval of Senate Bill 72, a measure that would provide COVID-19 liability protections to small businesses and other organizations that follow the government’s health and safety guidelines. SB 72 passed by a vote of 24-15: 

“This measure is important to Florida’s small businesses because it would protect them from unscrupulous trial lawyers who would try to profit from the pandemic by filing claims against small businesses that are following the rules to protect their customers and employees from this deadly virus.

“On behalf of our members, I want to thank Senator Brandes for standing up for small business and sponsoring this legislation. Our hope now is that the House will pass it quickly so Governor DeSantis can sign it into law and give small businesses the protection they need so they can continue to recover financially and put people back to work.”