With state lawmakers back from hiatus, Republicans are going full steam against measures implemented to combat COVID-19.
Lawmakers have rolled out a string of bills combating COVID-19 mandates of all types and for different groups. More could come.
"We're just responding to the Ohioans we hear speaking to us," said Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, to reporters last week.
Most of the legislation faces the tough task of garnering support from veto-proof majorities, or three-fifths of all members, as Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has said he opposes blocking mask mandates or preventing businesses from putting in requirements.
Additionally, the influential Ohio Chamber of Commerce has opposed any legislation telling private businesses what they must or cannot require. Cities have also argued their mandates are protected under the state constitution’s “Home Rule,” which gives them ultimate say over local self-government.
Here are the bills that have been introduced.
Anti-vaccine mandates
House Bill 248
Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester
What the bill would do:House Bill 248 prohibitsvirtually everybody from requiring a vaccine, even employers such as hospitals, and forbids "discriminatory treatment" based on vaccination status. It also requires schools with immunization requirements to notify parents that children can be exempted from vaccines.
The legislation applies to all vaccines, not just COVID-19 shots, which some of her colleagues have argued as being too broad.
Status of the bill: Republican leadership is keeping the bill stalled in the House Health Committee. Gross, who was booted from the committee overseeing health legislation, has tried to bypass the committee and force a final House vote, with little success so far.
Senate Bill 169
Sponsor: Sen. Andrew Brenner, R- Delaware
What the bill would do:Senate Bill 169 would prohibit any person, political subdivision, public official or state agency from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine or from denying "the full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, privileges, advantages, facilities, and
public spaces" based on vaccination status.
Employers would be liable liable if an employee gets an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
Status of the bill: Pending in Senate Health Committee.
House Bill 424
Sponsor: Rep. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield
What the bill would do:House Bill 424would ban COVID-19 vaccine mandates but only in the public sector, an attempt to appease the hospitals and business groups that have furiously lobbied against Gross's bill. Those not inoculated could not be penalized or discriminated against.
The law would sunset after two years, time for any vaccine concerns to be addressed.
If someone is sued over injury or death from COVID-19, any virus-related orders or guidelines could not be used in court to establish "reckless" conduct.
Status of the bill: Not yet assigned to committee.
House Bill 350
Sponsor: Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Youngstown
What the bill would do:House Bill 350would allow only health care businesses like hospitals and nursing homes to mandate inoculations and proof of them. Mandates could only be for fully approved vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech shot is the only approved vaccine.
Virtually everybody else, including other private entities, could be held liable for adverse reactions to the vaccine. And like almost all the other proposals, non-vaccination discrimination or penalties would be illegal.
Status of the bill: In committee. Given its effects on private businesses, efforts to move it out of committee face high barriers.
Vaccine passports
House Bill 253
Sponsor: Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Youngstown
What the bill would do: House BIll 253 would prohibit a person be required to show vaccination in order to enter a governmental building. It would prohibit government-imposed vaccine passports. DeWine has said the state has no plans to operate a passport program.
Status of the bill: In House Health Committee.
House Bill 411
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, and Rep. Diane Grendell, R-Chesterland
What the bill would do: House Bill 411 would prohibit governments and businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. People could not be forced to provide a reason for declining to disclose their vaccination status.
Status of the bill: Just introduced.
Banning mandates for masks, vaccines and testing
House Bill 425
Sponsor: Reps. Scott Wiggam, R-Wooster, and Thomas Hall, R-Madison Township
What the bill would do: House Bill 425 would ban COVID-19 mask mandates, vaccine mandates and testing mandates by businesses and government, only carving out exceptions for health care settings.
Status of the bill: Just introduced.
School mask mandates
Senate Bill 209
Sponsor: Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware,
What the bill would do: Senate Bill 209 would prevent the state or local schools from implementing mask requirements. The bill is in direct opposition to the governor's office, which has pleaded for local school districts to independently put in mask requirements to keep children in in-person learning.
Status of the bill: Assigned to the Senate General Government Budget Committee.
House Bill 400
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta and Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township
What the bill would do: House Bill 400 prohibits boards of education of a school district from implementing mask requirements. It also prohibits putting facial coverings into dress code or uniform policy. That's a workaround that districts in other states have used to defy similar laws.
Status of the bill: Recently introduced.
More exceptions to mandates
House Bill 435
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Green Township, and Rep. Rick Carfagna, R-Genoa Township
What the bill would do: Introduced Monday, House Bill 435 is a placeholder for a compromise bill from legislative leaders. They have said the bill would hinge on expanding exemptions to vaccine mandates instead of blocking them outright. Exemptions may include religious reasons or having natural immunity, and the hope is this approach is more tolerable for business groups.
"For the most part... most of the businesses are already doing it," Cupp had said on the exemptions. "They don't want to lose employees, they developed workarounds and exemptions. So that's what we think is the best" approach to take.
Parts of other existing bills could be wrapped in as well, though that remains to be seen.
Status of the bill: Details are expected at a committee hearing Tuesday.
Reporter Anna Staver contributed.
Titus Wu is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
Source link
