Florida House

The House spent less than two hours debating the business liability bill, with the Republican majority shooting down six proposed amendments filed by Democrats.

A House panel on Tuesday voted 12-6 to approve legislation that would protect nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and physicians from lawsuits related to COVID-19.

As the 60-day session begins Tuesday, social distancing and other safety rules will continue to be in place at the Capitol.

While the House has not posted details about which bills it will consider during the first week, Speaker Chris Sprowls told reporters he wants to move quickly on the proposal.

‌Representatives of hospitals,‌ ‌physician‌s ‌and‌ ‌long‌-term‌ ‌care‌ ‌facilities say ‌the‌ ‌Legislature‌ ‌needs‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌changes‌ ‌to‌ ‌protect‌ them‌ ‌from‌ ‌a‌ ‌potential‌ ‌flood‌ ‌of‌ ‌lawsuits‌.

Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miramar, filed the proposal, which would eliminate restrictions on prescribing controlled substances through telehealth.

The bill is designed to protect business entities, educational institutions, religious institutions, and governmental entities acting in good faith," says Plant City state Rep. Lawrence McClure.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, is calling for up to five years in jail for first-time offenders.

Neither chamber's measure contains lawsuit protections for health care providers, but Sen. Jeff Brandes, who sponsored the Senate version, says they will addressed in separate legislation.

Under Senate President Wilton Simpson’s plan, members of the public will have to watch and testify remotely. House Speaker Chris Sprowls has embraced a somewhat more relaxed stance.