A bill sits on Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk that would require Iowans sick from asbestos exposure to provide more detailed information to file a lawsuit.

Senate File 2337 passed in the Iowa House last week with all Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor, and passed in the Senate a couple weeks prior. The bill adds requirements for plaintiffs to list sites they worked at, each asbestos-containing product they were exposed to, and the amount of exposure to the product.

State House District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen (R) says he doesn’t believe this will further restrict Iowans from seeking justice, “All it requires is that in the initial filing of the lawsuit that you show a connection to who you’re suing and this prevents the over naming of asbestos companies. From what I saw there were examples of companies being named in hundreds and thousands of lawsuits that had no connection to the people suing them and that’s what the bill does.”

It’s unknown how soon Governor Reynolds will sign into law or veto the legislation, as the legislative session was suspended this week for at least 30 days after state officials declared the existence of community spread of COVID-19 in the state. Several insurance companies, and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry have declared their support for the bill, while the Iowa Association for Justice, Iowa Federation of Labor, and Iowa State Bar Association are opposed, according to the state’s lobbyist filings.