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Missouri chamber outlines legislative priorities

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The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry today released its agenda for the upcoming legislative session in Jefferson City.

Topping the list is a newly surfaced concern for the chamber: the threat of COVID-19 litigation, according to a news release. The chamber is asking lawmakers to pass emergency legislation addressing lawsuits filed against employers.

“If someone contracts COVID-19, today a lawyer can file a frivolous lawsuit against a Missouri business suggesting the company was the source and cause of the infection, even if the employer was following state and federal safety guidelines," chamber President and CEO Dan Mehan said in the release. "This situation is hurting Missouri’s ability to recover from the pandemic.

"We regularly hear from employers that they are reluctant to reopen and return to work knowing they could be exposed to frivolous lawsuits."

Nearly 800 employers and individuals in Missouri have signed a letter calling for state legislators to act, according to chamber officials. The release indicates there have been more than 1,000 COVID-19 lawsuits filed against employers nationwide since March.

The chamber's two other top requests in its legislative agenda involve the state's transportation infrastructure and workforce concerns, according to the release.

The chamber is asking lawmakers to address needed infrastructure repairs and improvements across the state. Officials pointed to a Dec. 3 report from transportation research nonprofit Trip that found Missouri drivers are losing $8 billion annually due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays.

"As a central state, Missouri has always thrived on our connections. It has been decades since we’ve invested in these assets, which are critical to our continued livelihood,” Mehan said in the release.

The chamber also is looking at the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the state's workforce. As jobs were displaced and certain job functions were absorbed by others, the chamber is asking legislators not to reduce funding for schools, colleges and training programs.

The chamber represents more than 75,000 employers, according to the release.

The legislative session is slated to begin Jan. 6, and Gov. Mike Parson is scheduled to deliver the State of the State address on Jan. 27.

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