Tennessee bill would criminalize COVID-19 vaccine requirements

UPDATE:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — House Bill 2311, which would criminalize vaccine mandates, failed in the Business & Utilities Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday.

EARLIER STORY:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee legislator has proposed a bill criminalizing COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The legislation, House Bill 2311, would make it an offense for a person or entity to require another get the vaccine or provide proof of receiving one.

The first violation of the proposed law is a Class C misdemeanor, then a Class B misdemeanor and fine of at least $1,000 for a second, and a Class A misdemeanor and a fine of at least $2,500 for a third violation.

The legislation does have an exception for hospitals and health care facilities where “a person who has been designated by a physician as being at high risk of death from exposure to a communicable disease.”

The legislation was introduced earlier in the year, and has most recently been sent to the Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

It is on their agenda for their meeting at 3:30 p.m. on March 9.

The House Bill was proposed by Rep. Bruce Griffey, of Paris, and the Senate Bill was proposed by Sen. Joey Hensley, of Hohenwald.

You can find more news from across the state here.