Des Moines, IA (Radio Iowa)– A bill working its way through the Iowa House could help bring significant liability protection from lawsuits to the trucking industry.

David Scott, a lobbyist for the Iowa Motor Truck Association says delivery trucks, construction vehicles and pick-ups owned by businesses would be covered as would semis.

The bill would exempt businesses from paying damages in cases where an employee was found negligent in a crash but Kellie Paschke, a lobbyist for the Association for Justice, adds it also protects against bad actors who fail to maintain trucks or tell drivers to continue driving when they are supposed to taking a break.

The bill cleared a House subcommittee Tuesday morning.

The proposal was part of Governor Kim Reynolds’ legislative priorities last year, but ran into opposition in the House.