The House took up the bill (SB 72) on Thursday, with Health and Human Services Chairwoman Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, answering a series of questions. It was positioned procedurally for a vote, likely to occur on Friday. The bill then could go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law.
The measure is a top priority of business and health-care groups that have called since last spring for protections from lawsuits related to people getting sick or dying because of COVID-19.
After Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, reached an agreement on details, the Senate voted 24-15 last week to approve the bill.
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This article appears in Mar 24-30, 2021.