The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 1946 on Monday that would give businesses immunity from lawsuits that allege the business exposed them to COVID-19. Businesses would be granted liability immunity to businesses "in a civil action claiming an injury from exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19″ so long as that business was operating under any applicable federal, state, or local guidance in place at the time the alleged exposure occurred.

In order for immunity to apply, the bill states that businesses must be in compliance with written guidance relating to the COVID-19 disease issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Oklahoma state department of health, the Oklahoma department of commerce, or any other state agency, board, or commission.

Proponents of the bill argue that it is crucial that action is taken now or businesses will be reluctant to reopen, further damaging the economy. Opponents argue that the bill is overly broad.