Several bills have been introduced in the Ohio House to prohibit some form of mandates for vaccines, House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) said the Republican caucus is now looking over the proposals to form a piece of legislation that can have a "path forward."
The House has seen several bills introduced that prohibit vaccine mandates. One bill would not allow government entities from requiring people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, another bill does the same but includes private businesses, and another bill would ban a mandate on any vaccine.
Cupp said the Republican caucus is working on a bill that takes into account the anti-vaccine mandate views he said have been expressed by Ohioans.
The speaker was asked why the state was taking an approach catering to people against vaccine mandates rather than one that gets more people vaccinated against COVID-19.
"First of all I'll tell you I'm vaccinated, fully vaccinated, and I'm ready to take the booster shot whenever that's authorized. Maybe you can help me understand why so many people do not believe that taking the vaccine is something that they want to do. We're just responding to the Ohioans and that we hear speaking to us. And again, we're trying to find a reasonable path forward," Cupp said.
A bill banning all mandatory vaccines is on hold and its sponsor, Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) has been removed from the House Health committee, which was hearing it. Gross launched a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the bill as it stalled in the committee.
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