Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 606 into law, ensuring civil immunity to individuals, schools, health care providers, businesses and other entities from lawsuits arising from exposure, transmission or contraction of COVID-19, or any mutation of the virus, as long as they were not showing reckless, intentional or willful misconduct.

“Some of the people that are at the front lines of both our battle to keep us safe and our battle to bring our businesses back, jobs back, are represented by the groups that really have lobbied for this,” DeWine said. “Local governments, schools, business in general, health care providers, all have been involved in asking the Legislature to act.”

House Bill 606 also shields health care providers from liability in tort actions regarding the care and services they provide during this pandemic unless they were acting recklessly or displaying intentional misconduct.

“As we all continue to find ways to navigate through the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the certainty that House Bill 606 will bring to our agriculture community is appreciated,” said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau’s executive vice president. “We applaud the governor and the Legislature for coming together to pass this measure to help employers, including those in the agriculture sector, get back to business on a normal scale while protecting the health and safety of their employees and communities.”

In addition to Ohio Farm Bureau, House Bill 606 was supported by several associations, including the AICUO, CCAO, Inter-University Council of Ohio, NFIB, Ohio Association of Community Colleges, Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Ohio Metro Chambers Coalition, Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Restaurant Association, Ohio School Boards Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio’s Superintendent Association and Ohio Township Association among others.

Photo courtesy DeWine on Facebook

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Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

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Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

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Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

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Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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