CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Senate is considering legislation to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits though none have been filed since the pandemic began.

Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren, sponsored the bill on behalf of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire. David Creer, the association’s director of public policy, told the Senate Commerce Committee the issue is a top priority among the group’s members, who can’t afford to fight a frivolous lawsuit.

“The funds used to defend themselves against a lawsuit can be better spent on keeping employees, trying to recover from lost revenues as a result of the pandemic,” he said at a public hearing Monday.

Businesses that aren’t following state and federal guidelines wouldn’t be protected, he said. And while no lawsuits have been filed yet in New Hampshire, it will happen eventually, he said. About 200 lawsuits have been filed nationwide, and several other states are considering similar legislation.

“We have a real opportunity here to prevent this from becoming a problem,” Creer said.

Attorneys were among the strongest critics of the bill, including several who said they represented businesses and have not had clients clamoring for such protection.

Nashua attorney Tony Sculimbrene said there have only been four COVID-19 related lawsuits in all of New England, which is considerably less than one per million people.

By HOLLY RAMER and KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press