Red States to Get Blueprint on Limiting Business Virus Liability

Red states looking to shield businesses from liability amid the Covid-19 pandemic may soon get a template from an influential conservative group.

The American Legislative Exchange Council is crafting a model bill that would limit liability for businesses following health and safety regulations or guidelines designed to protect employees and customers against the virus, said Ronnie Lampard, an ALEC staff member who heads the group’s civil justice task force. The group’s membership includes scores of Republican state lawmakers, and GOP-majority state legislatures frequently look to ALEC models to help craft their bills.

The risk of liability lawsuits—both from employees and ...