Anti-vaccine mandate group is pushing for potential ballot initiative

A group of Ohioans is aiming to push lawmakers – and maybe even voters – to consider a proposed law that would ban vaccine mandates and so-called vaccine passports.

Attorney General Dave Yost will decide this week whether to approve an initiated statute petition from residents who want to prevent government, schools, health care providers and businesses from requiring people to receive vaccines and gene therapies. The proposal mirrors a controversial anti-vaccine mandate bill that lawmakers tabled earlier this year.

Under the initiated statute process, petitioners must first file their proposal to Yost's office with signatures from 1,000 Ohio voters. If Yost and the ballot board determine the measure can more forward, the group needs to collect roughly 132,000 signatures to send it to the Legislature for action.

If lawmakers don't pass their proposal within four months, petitioners can gather signatures and put it on the ballot for voters to decide in the next general election.

Among the petition's representatives is Stephanie Stock of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, a group that lobbies against vaccine mandates. Stock did not immediately respond to an interview request.

In addition to banning vaccine requirements, the proposed law would bar vaccine passports and other programs that require people to disclose their inoculation status. It also would prevent institutions from restricting or denying services to unvaccinated individuals. Schools could continue requiring shots unless exemptions apply – as they do under current law – but would need to inform parents about the rules.

The proposal comes amid concerns over the omicron variant of COVID-19 and as cases in Ohio tick back up ahead of the cold winter months. It also contains several provisions deemed nonstarters by state officials and interest groups.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has opposed any legislation that dictates what businesses can and can't do about vaccine mandates. Gov. Mike Dewine opposes blanket requirements but has advocated for Ohioans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and believes institutions should make their own decisions about mandates.

However, House lawmakers passed another bill last month that would expand vaccine exemptions and prohibit businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for customers or employees. The vote came after some Republicans threatened to withhold their votes on congressional redistricting unless they saw action on an anti-vaccine mandate bill.

Haley Bemiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other organizations.

BROOKE LAVALLEY/COLUMBUS DISPATCH Protesters line the sidewalk outside the Ohio Statehouse in August to demonstrate on House Bill 248, “the Vaccine Choice and Anti-discrimination Act,” which lawmakers were debating inside.