MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber, manufacturers’ association and safety council – called on both houses of the State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers to support the COVID-19 liability protections contained in Assembly Bill 1 (AB 1).
“Wisconsin businesses throughout our state have taken extraordinary measures in the face of COVID-19 to keep their employees, customers and the public safe,” said WMC General Counsel Cory Fish. “It is critical that policymakers protect these organizations from frivolous and potentially bankruptcy-causing lawsuits.”
Without this legislation, organizations including businesses, schools, universities, non-profits and others could face costly litigation – even though they did everything right to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Importantly, the liability protections contained in AB 1 would not protect entities that participated in reckless or wanton conduct, or intentional misconduct.
“For our economy to get moving again, businesses cannot be operating under a cloud of uncertainty,” added Fish. “This legislation is critical to getting people back to work, and we urge lawmakers to support it.”
WMC recently led a coalition of more than 70 organizations including business groups, chambers of commerce and others asking the legislature and governor to support these protections. Additionally, similar legislation has been passed in at least four states with split government – Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada and North Carolina. Overall, more than 20 states have enacted some type of COVID-19 liability protection.
Fish testified in support of Section 59 of AB 1 on Tuesday to the Assembly Committee on Health. His testimony is available by clicking here.
