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Watered-Down Version Of Vaccine Mandate Ban Is Introduced In Ohio Legislature

By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
Posted on: Monday, September 20, 2021

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — The sponsor of a controversial bill all mandatory vaccines (HB 248) is trying to force it to the House floor for a full vote. Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) has pulled a discharge petition that would put it on the floor for a full vote in the Ohio House of Representatives. But, so far, she hasn’t received enough signatures from lawmakers to do that.

Now there’s a new bill that would ban local and state government entities from requiring employees or students to get COVID vaccines.

Republican Rep. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) said the bill (which hasn’t been assigned a number yet) applies only to local and state government agencies as well as public schools and universities. It also prevents state hospitals from requiring the shots. And it only to COVID vaccines.

“I listened to hours and hours of testimony this spring and summer and the one thing that people could agree on is that government should not be mandating a vaccine,” Koehler said.

Koehler’s legislation is meant to appeal to more lawmakers and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. It testified against the earlier bill. And at that time, it warned lawmakers trying to force a vote on that bill that they could risk losing the chamber’s support.