Bill on vaccine ‘misinformation’ heading to conference committee
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Lawmakers want to prohibit doctors from coercing patients into receiving vaccinations, but they can’t agree on the legal language for how to do so.
A bill that would prohibit coercion for vaccines and misinformation from healthcare providers about vaccine requirements has been assigned to a conference committee after the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives could not agree on which version of the bill they would like to enshrine into law.
Back in March, the Senate adopted a version of the bill that prevents doctors from:
Coercing a person to receive a vaccination
Misleading or misrepresenting that a vaccination is required by state law when state law allows for exemptions, or
Misleading or misrepresenting that a newborn screening test is required by state law when state law does not require it with no exemptions
Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom
The bill would also state that anyone who violates that law would be subject to having their license suspended or revoked.
Should a licensing authority learn of a doctor doing any of the prohibited actions, they would be required to investigate such claims and take appropriate disciplinary action, according to the Senate version of the bill.
The House adopted a slightly different version earlier this month.
The House version includes all the Senate provisions but also defines “coerce” and revises the definition of “vaccination” to mean vaccinated children under 2 years old.
Additionally, the House bill specifies that doctors would be prohibited from coercing someone “who has legal authority to make healthcare decisions for a child” to consenting to vaccines, rather than just stating they cannot “[coerce] a person.”
TN ‘vaccine lettuce’ bill heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk
After the House adopted its amendment, the Senate non-concurred, sending the measure back to the House. The House subsequently refused to recede from its amended version.
With neither chamber budging on their versions of the bill, House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) both sent the bills to conference committee.
That committee will be made up of Sens. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Ken Yager (R-Kingston); and Reps. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville), Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro), David Hawk (R-Greeneville), Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville) and Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar).
⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com
The measure is one of three that have been sent to conference committee this legislative session. Lawmakers also sent a bill on child porn civil penalties and the state’s large franchise and excise tax cut bill to conference committee after the chambers could not agree on which version to adopt.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
