What type of immunity does a state senator have?

A state senator possesses legislative immunity, which protects them from lawsuits for actions taken while performing their legislative duties. This form of immunity is rooted in the principle of separation of powers, ensuring that lawmakers can perform their functions without the fear of civil liability. Legislative immunity allows senators to debate, propose, and vote on legislation freely, promoting open discourse and decision-making essential for a functioning democracy.

Other forms of immunity, such as judicial immunity, applies to judges and protects them from being sued for their judicial actions; executive immunity is related to the actions of individuals in the executive branch, like the president or governors; and qualified immunity protects government officials from lawsuits unless they violated clearly established statutory or constitutional rights. None of these are applicable to state senators performing their legislative responsibilities.