Under House Bill 28, state and local governments along with public universities and colleges could not require disclosure of COVID-19 vaccination status. The measure also bars so-called "vaccine passports" and creates a conscientious objector exemption for parents who do not want to vaccinate their children against the coronavirus.
Republican Rep. Savannah Maddox — an outspoken critic of the governor's pandemic response — is the sponsor of the legislation.
"The intention is to create as broad of protections as possible for Kentuckians to be able to decide for themselves whether or not to receive a vaccine."Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge)
No Kentucky law requires that citizens be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but as Democratic Rep. Pamela Stevenson pointed out, the disclosure of immunization status of employees, faculty, students, and others allows public entities to create safer environments.
"How do you protect the community from a pandemic if you're not allowed to ask the question?"Rep. Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville)
The original bill would have also placed similar prohibitions on businesses, but those sections were removed.
The bill, which already sports 23 co-sponsors, cleared the House Committee on State Government and is now poised for a vote in the Kentucky House.
