Central Valley lawmakers are making a bipartisan effort to provide immunity for all California businesses and their employees from COVID-19 lawsuits.

Thirteen representatives from the Assembly and state Senate are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to use executive action to provide immunity.

“We must protect businesses and their employees, complying with state and local guidelines, from COVID-19 lawsuits so they can reopen without the cloud of litigation looming overhead,” said Sen. Andreas Borgeas, a Fresno Republican who is leading the effort. “Small businesses are the bedrock of California’s economy and our communities.”

In addition to Borgeas, the following lawmakers signed a letter sent to Newsom on Wednesday:

Sens. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), and Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama); and Assemblymembers Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals), Heath Flora (R-Ripon), Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), and Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield).

You can read the letter at this link.