DeSantis signs bill that protects SpaceX from lawsuits

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill last week designed to protect private space-flight companies from injury lawsuits.

The bill was just one out of 27 bills that the governor signed the day after he announced his presidential candidacy. The bill passed with little opposition through the Florida legislature last month.

The new law, dubbed the Spaceflight Entity Liability Bill, protects private space companies like SpaceX or Blue Origin from being hit by a personal-injury lawsuit in Florida from space flight.

The law requires passengers and crew members on rocket flights to sign a warning statement, assuming responsibility for the inherent risks of space flight.

The law does carve out an exception.

If the company in question had “actual knowledge of an extraordinarily dangerous condition” that is not inherent to space flight, then an injury lawsuit could proceed.

SpaceX rocket launches came under some scrutiny this year after a launch in Texas left the surrounding national park inundated with dangerous debris and fires.

The bill is another example of the close relationship between Gov. DeSantis and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The governor announced his presidential candidacy in a Twitter space last week hosted by Mr. Musk, who has said previously he would support Mr. DeSantis in a potential 2024 presidential run but has not formally endorsed the governor.