Senate committee authorizes expense to ban COVID vaccine mandates at state and local entities

BANNING MANDATES: Joshua Bryant (R-Rogers) presents an expense to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine requireds.

The state Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Monday authorized an expense to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates across state and local government entities, an action lawmakers stated would mirror an ended law from 2021.

Regardless of much ado and confusion at the Capitol this morning about other aspects of Gov. Sarah Sanders' unique session today, senators settled into the committee meeting after lunch for a quick conversation on the costs. Sen. Joshua Bryant (R-Rogers) is the main sponsor of the bill, with more than a dozen senators and 52 agents noted as co-sponsors.

"She's been very proactive to enable choice when it comes to vaccine requireds."

Like the 2021 law, Senate Bill 3 would forbid COVID-19 vaccine mandates at state entities. Bryant's costs takes it a step even more to detail vaccine requireds for any "subvariants" of the virus. It likewise would need the Arkansas Department of Health to "maintain info and information on any potential threats and damages" connected with the vaccine and to "make the information and information publicly readily available."
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The vaccine mandates would extend from state workers to the county and city level and down to schools, Bryant said. Exceptions are possible, but Bryant stated they would be stringent and at the discretion of the Arkansas Legislative Council.

One individual, a woman who stated she handled a child care organization during the pandemic, spoke in favor of the costs. She stated her four workers, and the moms and dads of the children who were taken care of individually, made choices about vaccination. She supported their right to select, she said.
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Discussion amongst legislators in committee was minimal Monday, though one opposing vote could be heard.

The legislation is ideal on track with Sanders' narrative versus the COVID-19 pandemic and precaution. When she revealed the special session on Friday, the COVID-19-related items were described as methods to "protect our liberty."

SB 3 is anticipated to be voted on in the complete Senate on Tuesday.