All around the USA, states are continuing to propose Right to Refuse bills to protect our freedoms. Since December we have reviewed many hundreds of new bills and identified 109 of these that impact folks’ rights related to vaccines and other public health interventions. These new bills take a wide variety of approaches, but all of them represent ongoing efforts to defend liberty. In prior emails we noted national progress on both Right to Refuse (over 70 bills in 28 states have already passed) along with Safe Harbor bills, and also detailed Texas’ new bills. Today we offer a sampling of the 109 new proposals that have been filed for 2023.

Employment Protection 

In Arizona, SB1031 would mean that a state entity may not terminate an employee based on the employee’s vaccination status or political affiliation. And a state agency that violates this section is subject to a civil penalty equivalent to ten percent of their budget. And HB2303 proposes that except as otherwise provided by federal law, an employer may not require or request an employee’s vaccination records as a condition of employment.  

No COVID-19 Mandates for Minors, Moral Exemption Allowed

Colorado’s HB1029 would prohibit requiring a COVID-19 vaccine for a minor, administering a COVID-19 vaccine to a child without the consent of the child’s parent, a school from denying a student admission, attendance, or extracurricular activities when an immunization exemption has been claimed, a public or private entity from discriminating against a minor based on whether the minor received a COVID-19 vaccine, and other provisions.

In Connecticut, 13 new bills have been introduced, with six of these related to K-12 exemptions. HB5191 would restore the religious exemption from immunization requirements for school children; HB5140 would allow a moral or philosophical objection as an exemption to school immunization requirements; and HB5379 proposes that employers may not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or inquire into vaccine records of listed persons.

Fired Folks Get Jobs Back, Ads for Experimental Vaccines Banned

Florida’s HB305 would prohibit the health department from mandating inclusion in state immunization registry. It also says that business and government entities may not require proof of vaccination for any disease to limit access or discriminate in employment. Under Hawaii’s proposed HB52, state employees who resigned or were fired for noncompliance with COVID-19 vaccination or testing rules are to be reinstated with back pay. In Idaho, SB1009 would provide that a government entity may not order residents to remain in their homes, close their businesses, social distance, or wear masks or other facial coverings because of an emergency, or advertise for any experimental vaccine; and that a patient cannot be denied treatment for refusing a vaccine or other medication.

Religious Exemptions Must Be Accepted, Right to Bodily Autonomy

Indiana’s HB1127 proposes that employers may not require testing for COVID-19 unless an employee is symptomatic or at high risk. And employers must accept religious exemptions without question. Civil actions are allowed to enforce this. In Kansas, HB2007 would prohibit the secretary of health from requiring a COVID-19 vaccination for care at a childcare facility or attendance at a primary or secondary school. Two new Kentucky bills are HB57 and HB110. The former would recognize a competent adult’s right to bodily autonomy and inherent and absolute right to refuse medical treatment and prohibits any person, employer, entity, or health care provider from mandating medical treatment, including vaccines or devices. The latter would add conscientiously-held beliefs to the list of exceptions to immunization requirements.

Massachusetts Bill Would Ban Unwanted Medical Procedures

In Massachusetts, SD2014 would mean that no person shall be compelled to acquiesce to medical treatments or procedures, including by employer mandate. Reasonable non-invasive testing or treatments are allowed. A “Non-invasive” procedure is a test or treatment in which the body is not penetrated or entered by a needle, tube, device, swab, or scope, or one in which no substance is administered orally or otherwise. And in Minnesota, under SF204 no state entity may require persons to be vaccinated for any disease or to show proof of such. No business may require any vaccination to work at, or receive services from, said business. Exception for school vaccines.  In Maine, HP34 would prohibit the inclusion of any vaccine for COVID-19 on the list of vaccines available through the Universal Childhood Immunization Program.

 Doctors’ Free Speech Protected, Organ Transplant Discrimination

Mississippi has nine new bills pending. Some of these include SB2320, which would prohibit the licensing boards of health care practitioners from taking remedial action based on licensees’ exercise of free speech rights unless it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the speech led to direct physical harm of a person; SB2769 would codify that preschool and K-12 student exemptions from vaccinations for medical reasons shall be accepted, and vaccine requirements do not apply when a parent objects on religious grounds and provides notarized affidavit affirming their objection; and SB2768 under which no person could be denied an organ transplant solely based on their COVID-19 vaccine status.

 Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Parents’ Bill of Rights

In Missouri, SJR20 is a proposed constitutional amendment which would prohibit any law or policy by public entities, including schools and universities that receive public funds, that infringes on the right to refuse any medical procedure including vaccinations. And SB99 would exclude COVID-19 immunizations from the list of childhood immunizations required for children attending day care, preschool, public, private, parochial, or parish schools. Up in New Hampshire, HB10 would create a Parents’ Bill of Rights which includes that parents have the right to make medical decisions for their children, including those regarding vaccinations and immunizations. New York’s SB118 proposes a religious exemption from vaccination requirements for school attendance.

14 New Bills in Oregon; 11 New Bills in Oklahoma

Oregon has proposed 14 new bills, and a key one is SB638. This law would make discrimination against an individual based on their vaccination history, individual’s refusal to obtain vaccination, or individual’s failure to provide proof of immunity to communicable disease unlawful employment practices. In Oklahoma, 11 new bills are under consideration, with one key proposal being SB929. It would mandate that before any vaccination, the provider shall inform the patient of all ingredients in the vaccine and whether fetal cell lines were used in the research or production of the vaccine. There is a $100,000 fine for violation.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment for Right to Refuse

South Carolina’s HR3283 proposes that COVID-19 vaccination shall not be a condition for attendance at K-12 public schools or schools that receive government money. South Dakota’s HJR5003 is a proposed amendment to the state Constitution: A person has the right to refuse any medical procedure, treatment, injection, device, vaccine, or prophylactic. The person’s right of refusal may not be questioned or interfered with in any manner. And in Tennessee, HB252 would remove vaccination requirements for home schooled students.

 Texas Commission Would Study Safety and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines

In Texas, HB1032 would mean that employers and insurers may not discriminate based on COVID-19 vaccine status. Primary, secondary, and higher education students may not be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Students at private or independent institutions of higher education may not be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Exception for medical education in certain circumstances. SB403 would require the Health and Human Services Commission to study adverse reactions to, and effectiveness of, COVID-19 vaccines and also any misrepresentations of safety or effectiveness. Virginia’s HB2276 proposes that parents shall not be required to immunize their children against COVID-19 for school attendance.

 Wyoming Takes Aim at World Health Organization

In Washington state, SB5139 would mean that no state entity may require a person to submit to COVID-19 vaccination despite religious, philosophical, or personal objections and no state entity may require vaccine for COVID-19 when a person has such objections for employment, education, travel, or other reasons. Also, no employer, school or university, transit, or other public accommodation may require, directly or indirectly, any person to submit to vaccination or immunization for COVID-19. Finally, taking a broad view of national and state sovereignty, Wyoming’s HB143 states that the CDC and World Health Organization shall have no jurisdiction in Wyoming. Guidance from these organizations shall not be used to justify any mask, vaccine, or medical testing requirements.

To find groups in your state that are working on similar proposals, go to RighttoRefuse.org.  There you can also find the actual language of the above proposed bills, plus many others.  Individuals and groups working to change public policy are having success – we urge you to get involved in your state.