House passes HB1001, GOP priority bill addressing vaccine mandates

INDIANAPOLIS (WPTA) - The Indiana House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced HB1001, a bill that would restrict COVID-19 vaccine requirements implemented by businesses and end the governor’s public health emergency.

The bill, authored by Berne Rep. Matthew Lehman, passed by a vote of 57 to 35. It would force Hoosier businesses that implement a vaccine mandate to provide religious exemptions to any employee making a request and medical exemptions to those providing a doctor’s note. HB1001 also requires that workers be given a testing option at no cost to them if them opt out of vaccination. The State would reimburse them for any such expense.

An amendment passed earlier in the legislative session removed penalties that would have been imposed on companies under certain circumstances.

The measure also takes steps that could lead to an end of the public health emergency declared early in the pandemic by Gov. Eric Holcomb. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.