Missouri's COVID-19 lawsuit protection bill to shield employers from pandemic-related lawsuits will not be debated until the upcoming January session, after Gov. Mike Parson urged lawmakers to cease discussion during an emergency hearing held in December.
"The Governor had extended the call for the special session in order to address the COVID liability issues," State Sen. Ed Emery (R-Lamar) said in an interview with the St. Louis Record. "He withdrew that extension, so that means any legislation we had to address would not be constitutionally presented." Parson originally requested the extension in November.
Emery first introduced the bill to the Senate Committee, where he argued the protections would be good for Missouri's economy by giving businesses confidence to reopen their doors and rehire employees.
"Businesses are really crying out for some protections," he said. "They are reluctant to proceed with business as usual without a set of guidelines."
Although Missouri's business community has remained unscathed by COVID-19-related lawsuits, over 1,000 lawsuits have been filed in other states, a release issued on the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry website said.
Legal teams in Missouri have begun advertising for these types of lawsuits in the St. Louis area, indicating a potential flood of litigation on the horizon. Missouri has grappled with the issue since the spring, after the Chamber received a letter signed by approximately 800 businesses requesting lawmakers to take action.
The decision to hold off on any legislation until January has been met with disappointment amongst key stakeholders.
"On behalf of employers across the state that have been anxiously waiting for these protections, the Missouri Chamber is disappointed that progress will be stalled until lawmakers reconvene in January," Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in the release.