Florida’s Covid-19 Liability Shield Bill Goes to Governor’s Desk

Florida is on track to become the most populous U.S. state thus far to enact broad Covid-19 liability protections under legislation headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

The legislation, SB 72, would shield businesses, nonprofits, schools, and government entities from civil lawsuits related to Covid-19 damages, injury, or death. A plaintiff’s case could proceed to trial only if they could clear a set of higher-than-usual legal hurdles, including the submission of a doctor’s signed statement attesting to their claim of virus exposure.

The bill would broadly protect health-care providers from lawsuits, including claims related to Covid-19 treatment ...