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State Restaurant Associations

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State Frivolous-Lawsuit Legislation

Get an overview of these bills to ban obesity lawsuits against restaurants.

Click on states for bill status: States in RED -- lawsuit bills PENDING; States in GREEN -- lawsuit bills ENACTED; States in GREY -- lawsuit bills DEAD for this session
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Overview of legislation
The National Restaurant Association is working closely with its state restaurant association partners to assist in introducing legislation around the country that will limit the civil liability of any manufacturer, distributor, seller, or retailer of food or nonalcoholic beverages in cases in which liability is based on an individual's weight gain, obesity, or obesity-related health condition that results from that individual's long-term consumption of a food or beverage. See resources for copies of model state legislation.

Pending Action: 2008

Minnesota
Contact: Minnesota Restaurant Association
Status:
02/26/2007	HB 994 and SB 1261 concerning Weight Gain from Certain Foods Civil Actions introduced. Legislation is pending in the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Legislative text is under review.

Nebraska
Contact: Nebraska Restaurant Association & Hospitality Education Foundation
Status:
06/01/2007	100th Legislature -- First Regular Session Adjourned - Legislation Carried Over to Second Regular Session 2008.
01/19/2007	Referred to Judiciary Committee.
01/17/2007	L 625 -Civil Actions Based Upon Weight Gain. Text of legislation is under legal review.

New Jersey
Contact: New Jersey Restaurant Association
Status:
01/08/2008	Sen. John H. Adler (D) introduced SB 235, obesity lawsuit preemption legislation which seeks to limit the liability of food producers, manufacturers, packers, distributors, carriers, holders, sellers, marketers and advertisers for claims arising out of weight gain or obesity. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

New York
Contact: New York State Restaurant Association
Status:
01/17/2007	AB 2381 and SB 1245 introduced. Legislation referred to their respective Codes Committee for consideration.

Oklahoma
Contact: Oklahoma Restaurant Association
Status:
02/26/2007	HB 1518 passes House third reading Ayes: 99 Nays: 2. To Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
01/19/2007	HB 1463 and HB 1518 - Common Sense Consumption Act. Text of both pieces of legislation is under legal review.

Pennsylvania
Contact: Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
Status:
04/10/2007	HB 1049 introduced in the House. Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
03/12/2007	SB 328, Food Purveyors Civil Immunity, introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

South Carolina
Contact: South Carolina Hospitality Association
Status:
01/09/2007	HB 3046 - enacts the Common Sense Consumption Act. Language of bill is not preferred and not supported. Referred to House Judiciary Committee.

Laws Passed - 2008

No information about enacted legislation is available

Proposals Defeated/Tabled - 2008

No information about defeated legislation is available

Calendar

NRA Show 2012 • May 5-8, 2012

International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event at the NRA Show • May 6-7, 2012

May 21

Hospitality Industry Happy Hour

May 22

DRA University at the Beach--Food Handler