Several State Legislatures Introduce Silica Medical Criteria Bills

Legislators in at least four states are now considering measures that would place limits on the types of silica-related injuries that could proceed through their state and federal courts.

In February and March, state Legislatures in Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia introduced bills that would create minimum medical criteria for filing asbestos and silica cases, and in some cases restricts the type of doctors who can diagnose claimants with asbestos and silica-related disease.

According to the measures, the majority of which closely mirror a similar measure signed into law last year in Ohio, all claims that do not meet …