ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers wrangled for weeks last year before deciding to protect businesses and others from being sued if someone blames them for contracting COVID-19. On Wednesday, a state House committee agreed in a five-minute meeting to renew that protection for another year with no debate.
Members of the House Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System advanced House Bill 112 to the full House for more debate on a split voice vote.
The measure would extend the protections to July 14, 2022. They currently are set to expire July 14 of this year.
Committee Chairman Trey Kelley, a Cedartown Republican who is sponsoring the bill, said the measure is being supported by key business lobbying groups as well as the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, which typically represents plaintiffs lawyers.