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State by State Advocacy Series – July 2020 Northeastern Recap

| General Government Relations

Here’s an update on the Northeastern region of the U.S. as part of the NMMA’s July state advocacy briefing. 

Business Liability: As businesses deal with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdated business liability rules have come to the forefront of business protection needs. Many of the states in the Northeast have passed laws to protect healthcare workers from civil liability COVID-19 suits. Currently active legislation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania would expand these protections to all businesses.

  • New Jersey: A4279 would protect manufacturers of PPE, AB 4190/SB 2522 would protect retailers including bars and restaurants, and AB4189/S2502 would provide general immunity for businesses and non-profits.
  • Pennsylvania: HB2639 would protect manufacturers of PPE. SB1194 would not only protect businesses from COVID-19 suits and limits the time a person has to file a lawsuit.

Travel Restrictions: Beginning in June, the Governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York have required visitors from states in which more than 10 per 100,000 residents tested positive for the virus or more than 10 percent of tests were positive, on a seven-day rolling average. Visitors from those states, which totaled 31 as of July 22, must self-quarantine for 14 days and submit a self-identification form. Rhode Island requires visitors to self-quarantine if they travel from any of the 34 states listed here  unless they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Travel restrictions will begin in Massachusetts on August 1. All travelers including returning residents must complete travel forms prior to arrival, unless visiting from a lower-risk state, and quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in the Commonwealth.

Wakesurfing: An in-depth report on wakesurfing concluded that education, limited regulation, and open access to New Hampshire’s public waters were the preferred ways to address concerns about wakesurfing. It was written by a legislative commission that included representatives from WSIA and other boating stakeholders, homeowners, and environmental groups. The report, testimony and scientific research can be found here. NMMA and WSIA distributed the report nationwide to key stakeholders who are expected to use it to better understand their options.

Contact David Dickerson, [email protected], or Libby Yranski, [email protected], with questions or for more information.