Should Louisiana lawmakers protect businesses, students, employees from vaccine mandates?

Louisiana lawmakers, with the memory of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and vaccine requirements still fresh on their minds, have ramped up the debate and resistance to future innoculation mandates during their ongoing legislative session in Baton Rouge.

Two vaccine bills have already taken the stage with a third on deck.

House Bill 25 by Republican Rep. Danny McCormick of Oil City that would prevent businesses and their owners from being sued because they didn't mandate "experimental or emergency use vaccines" cleared the full House this week on a bipartisan vote.

House Bill 87 by Republican Rep. Michael Echols of Monroe that would allow employees who suffer vaccine injuries to sue employers who required a shot as a condition of employment failed by two votes after it was opposed by the state's most powerful business lobby (LABI). But Echols gave notice that he will bring the measure back with revisions.

And House Bill 47 by Republican Rep. Kathy Edmonston of Gonzales that would require schools to provide information to parents about how they can opt out of a required vaccine anytime they communicate about vaccine requirements is waiting to be scheduled in the House Education Committee. Any parent can receive a vaccine exemption for their child now, but Edmonston said many parents aren't aware of the option.

McCormick said his bill protecting businesses who don't mandate vaccines for their employees "will encourage business to come to Louisiana and stay in Louisiana."

McCormick said he filed the legislation because Louisiana has a reputation as a litigious state.

"We're know in Louisiana for being sue happy," he said. "We want businesses to know they won't be liable for (vaccine related) frivolous lawsuits."

Echols said his bill to make businesses liable for requiring vaccines is designed as a deterrent for vaccine mandates by employers.

Echols said he knows constituents who "died or were maimed and injured" by the COVID-19 vaccine, calling the period of pandemic restrictions and mandates "one of the most aggregious periods in our history."

"It's very clear today mistakes were may that do no need to be repeated," he said.

Last year Edmonston won final legislative passage on an almost identical school vaccine bill she is carring again, but it was vetoed by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. New Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign her bill this year when it clears the Legislature.

"The destruction of our individual freedoms, and more specifically the rights of parents, must be addressed so we can make sure nothing like what Edwards inflicted on the people of Louisiana can ever happen again," Edmonston said in a House Freedom Caucus press release.

More: Louisiana lawmakers advance bill to allow insurers to drop coverage on three-year customers

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Post pandemic COVID-19 vaccine debates rage on in Louisiana Legislature