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Legislature approves bill aimed at thwarting federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements


Posted Date: 11/23/2021

Legislature approves bill aimed at thwarting federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements

In an historic special session Monday, the Kansas Legislature approved a bill that supporters said would protect Kansas workers from federal requirements to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Republican legislative leaders said HB 2001 was necessary because of the Biden Administration’s requirement that workers at businesses with more than 100 employees be vaccinated or submit to weekly tests for COVID-19. That mandate has been stopped for now by a federal court. Another federal vaccine mandate applies to long-term care facilities and workers on federal contracts.

Opponents said the legislation was a deceptive, feel-good measure to appease anti-vaxxers, who jammed the House and Senate galleries and cheered and booed during debate. Several Democrats said states can’t pass laws that overturn federal laws, and the final decision on vaccine requirements will be decided in the courts.

The legislation was approved 77-34 in the House and 24-11 in the Senate. Gov. Laura Kelly said she would sign it into law.  

The special session, which concluded after 14 hours, was the first in Kansas history forced by a petition of legislators.

HB 2001 would expand exemptions for workers to refuse getting vaccinated and set up a procedure for businesses that improperly denied an exemption request to be fined up to $50,000.

While the day’s action focused on HB 2001, some legislators previewed further desires to limit vaccine requirements in the upcoming 2022 regular legislative session, which starts Jan. 10.

SB 2, which was introduced Monday, would expand exemptions to immunizations required for school attendance and limit the governor and health officials in addressing contagious diseases. The bill was filed by Republican Sens. Mark Steffen, Alice Straub, Mike Thompson and Caryn Tyson.