The bill would restrict employer vaccine mandates and help end the governor's public health emergency.
Shutterstock photo.
INDIANAPOLIS – A bill restricting employer vaccine mandates is one step closer to law.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 1001 by a 58-35 vote.
HB 1001, which was co-authored by State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg), would require businesses to accept medical and religious exemptions if they require the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.
The bill would also require employers to give employees the choice to get tested weekly for free instead of being vaccinated.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced their opposition to the bill in December, stating one of the major issues pertains to employers footing the bill for COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated workers.
Another key component of the bill would allow Governor Holcomb’s state public health emergency to expire by ensuring Indiana could continue receiving the same federal reimbursements for SNAP and Medicaid, while maintaining the state’s ability to hold voluntary community vaccination clinics.
The state has seen a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. All but 11 of the state’s 92 counties are currently in red status for COVID-19 spread, and the 7-day all tests positivity rate stands at 30 percent.
House Bill 1001 now moves to the Indiana Senate for consideration.
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