HF1514 Summary

• Commissioner of health must certify COVID-19 risk level every two weeks using Covid Act Now framework, with five levels: severe (maroon), critical (red), high (orange), medium (yellow), and low (green).

• Bars and restaurants must close during severe risk status; restrictions on occupancy (50-90 percent), dine-in service, bar seating, and gaming areas apply at critical, high, and medium risk levels; normal operations allowed at low risk.

• Venues, fitness centers, personal care services, and pools must close during severe risk status with occupancy limits scaling from 25 to 75 percent at other risk levels.

• All covered businesses must maintain six feet of social distancing, require employee face coverings, use contactless payment, post signage, and provide hand sanitizer regardless of risk level.

• $20,000,000 appropriated in fiscal year 2021 for direct payments to bars and restaurants for spoiled food and beverages due to COVID-19 restrictions, available until December 31, 2021.