The Alabama Legislature has passed legislation designed to attract Airbus suppliers to the state.
The Senate gave final approval to the bill 27-0 Thursday and sent it to the governor, who endorsed it. The bill limits lawsuits against a plane's manufacturer and suppliers to causes of action arising within 12 years after a plane is delivered. It applies only to commercial planes with at least 100 seats.
Proponents said Alabama has allowed some lawsuits that neighboring states didn't permit, and the states were using that to try to land suppliers for the Airbus plant being built in Mobile. The bill was a compromise worked out with plaintiff lawyers. It went through the Legislature without a negative vote.