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Tennessee Senate passes bill to ban government-issued 'vaccine passport' programs


A healthcare worker displays a COVID-19 vaccine record card at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center on December 16, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
A healthcare worker displays a COVID-19 vaccine record card at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center on December 16, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
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The Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that would ban government-issued "vaccine passports" in the state and strip power from some county boards of health.

Senators moved SB0858/HB0575 ahead on Wednesday with a vote of 27 to 3.

The bill would strip away public health powers from county boards of health and move those to an advisory role. A new amendment would ban governments in Tennessee from implementing “vaccination passport” programs.

It's sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) and Rep. John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge).

Bowling noted Gov. Bill Lee's opposition to "vaccine passports" while lawmakers discussed the new amendment as stated below:

Prohibits a state or local governmental official, entity, department, or agency from mandating a private business to require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entering upon the premises of the business or utilizing services provided by the business

RELATED: Tennessee governor opposes vaccine passports, supports legislation banning mandate

Lee's statement came the day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order banning businesses from requiring customers to show proof they have been vaccinated against the virus.

Bowling said government-owned hospitals would not be impacted by this bill.

In addition, the measure would define quarantine in state law.

The bill still needs to make its way through the House. It's slated to be heard in a Health Committee on Wednesday.


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