Most bills being considered are part of a coordinated effort by groups linked to right-wing activist Leonard Leo A gas flare at an oil well site on July 26, 2013 in Williston, North Dakota. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) This article originally appeared on ProPublica. Across the country, Republican-led state legislatures are passing a slate of laws that effectively shield oil and gas companies from legal claims that they are responsible for the destruction and mounting toll caused by climate change.