A bill that would provide school districts and other entities protection against certain lawsuits related to COVID-19 has reached the Governor’s desk.

 

On a 29-3 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 1046, which limits liability for certain exposures to COVID-19, to send it to Gov. Kristi Noem for review and signature.

 

“We have a bill in front of us that can make a difference,” Sen. Michael Diedrich, the co-prime sponsor of the bill, told fellow Senators.

 

HB 1046 includes school districts in the list of entities who are not liable for damages due to exposure to COVID-19 on their premises, unless an individual or the entity has intentional transmitted COVID-19.

 

ASBSD supports the bill and joined a number of other groups in support of the bill, including the South Dakota Retailers, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations among many others.

 

For updates on this bill and others, check the ASBSD Blog and Bill Tracker page.