In response to HB 7 and SB 72, related to “Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19” Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Marc Hyden, and I am the director of state government affairs for the R Street Institute, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy research organization. Our mission is to engage in policy research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government. While our work covers areas ranging from public health to cybersecurity, we began as a think tank dealing with issues of risk, risk transfer and insurance. That is why HB 7 and SB 72 are of special interest to us.