The Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would ban government issued “vaccine passports” in the state.
“A state or local governmental official, entity, department, or agency shall not require, or mandate that a private business 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,” the bill states.
The state’s Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill Wednesday 27-3, and it includes stripping public health powers from county boards of health, moving them instead to an advisory role.
The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Janice Bowling and state Rep. John Ragan. It still needs to make it through the state’s House before it can go to the governor’s desk.
Gov. Bill Lee, however, has already signaled approval of such a bill, tweeting earlier this month that he opposes vaccine passports.
RON DESANTIS SPURNS BIDEN VACCINE PASSPORT PLAN AND WILL BAN THEM IN FLORIDA VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER
“I oppose vaccine passports. The COVID-19 vaccine should be a personal health choice, not a government requirement,” he tweeted on April 6. “I am supporting legislation to prohibit any government-mandated vaccine passports to protect the privacy of Tennesseans’ health information and ensure this vaccine remains a voluntary, personal decision.”
I am supporting legislation to prohibit any government-mandated vaccine passports to protect the privacy of Tennesseans’ health information and ensure this vaccine remains a voluntary, personal decision.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) April 6, 2021
It was reported the Biden administration was working to develop vaccine credentials, so the public would be able to show proof of vaccination following the pandemic. White House press secretary Jen Psaki, however, has pushed back on the reports, saying the development of such a program “will be driven by the private sector.”
The news out of Tennessee comes after Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order prohibiting his state from using vaccine passports, saying such a requirement would have “huge privacy implications.”
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“We are not supporting doing any vaccine passports in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society.”
“You want the fox to guard the henhouse? I mean, give me a break. I think this is something that has huge privacy implications,” DeSantis added. “It is not necessary to do.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also issued an executive order banning vaccine passports last week.
