Sponsors (10)
The bill makes it easier and less legally risky to place and use AEDs—likely increasing bystander intervention and saving lives—but it narrows civil remedies and may weaken incentives for maintenance, training, and strong state-level protections, shifting some risks onto victims.
People who suffer out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (patients and bystanders) are more likely to receive faster defibrillation because the bill’s federal liability protections encourage wider AED placement and use.
Bystanders who attempt to use an AED (witnesses of medical emergencies) face less fear of being sued, increasing the likelihood that people will intervene in emergencies.
Hospitals, businesses, and other premises owners (owners/managers) face reduced legal uncertainty and cross‑state compliance burdens when placing or making AEDs available, making it easier to deploy devices broadly.
People injured by improper AED use or poor maintenance (patients and victims) would have reduced ability to obtain civil remedies because the bill creates broad federal immunity that can preempt state liability rules.
People who suffer harm (patients and bystanders) may bear greater risk and costs if broad immunity weakens incentives for owners to maintain, register, post warnings, or ensure trained responders, shifting upkeep costs toward victims.
State and local governments (and businesses operating under state rules) lose flexibility because a federal baseline can preempt stronger state protections or incentives, preventing states from offering broader liability or training requirements.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal baseline civil-liability protection for AED users, premises, and AED owners, with exceptions for gross misconduct and failure to maintain devices.
Introduced February 21, 2025 by Scott Franklin · Last progress February 21, 2025
Creates a nationwide baseline of civil-liability protection for people who use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in perceived medical emergencies, for premises owners/lessees/managers where an AED is used or removed, and for persons or entities that own or otherwise acquired an AED. Immunity is broad (applies regardless of signage, registration, or prior AED training) but does not shield willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless or conscious indifference, or certain uses by health professionals or health-care employees acting within their professional scope; owner-acquirers can also lose immunity if they fail to maintain the AED according to manufacturer guidelines. The law defines “owner-acquirer,” establishes which factors do not affect immunity, lists specific exceptions to immunity, and includes rules clarifying that it does not create a new private cause of action beyond existing law. It is intended to encourage wider AED deployment by reducing liability uncertainty, especially for entities operating in multiple states.