Complete Story
12/16/2024
Academy Supports Opposition to HB 319
Ohio House Bill 319, under Primary Sponsor Reps. Jennifer Gross and Scott Wiggam would enact a right in Ohio law for Ohioans to refuse "any biologic, vaccine, pharmaceutical, drug, gene editing technology, RNA-based product, or DNA-based product for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions," according to a nonpartisan analysis of the bill.
Under the bill, private and public entities would be barred from denying someone employment, terminating their employment, denying them services, denying them access to commerce, segregating them, penalizing them, or treating them differently based on their decision to forgo vaccines and other medical interventions.
H.B. 319 also sets up legal recourse for Ohioans who feel their medical freedom rights have been violated, allowing petitions to the court for immediate relief and the ability to bring private civil lawsuits against the business in question.
A third hearing for the bill took place last week. Opponent testimony came from organizations including the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio Healthcare and Business Coalition, and the Ohio Chamber Of Commerce.