NASHVILLE – A bill filed in advance of this week’s Tennessee General Assembly special session on COVID-19 says government agencies and businesses can require vaccinations for employees – but are barred from requiring any proof.
“This now says period – across the board – no one can require proof of vaccination,” bill sponsor and House Calendar and Rule Committee Chair Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, said Monday night in a telephone interview regarding House Bill 9004.
“Bridgestone, no employer, nobody. Everyone is secure in their public health vaccination, nobody asks for a flu vaccination passport, polio, rubella, whatever it may be. So we’re saying that holds true for COVID, and no one can require proof of vaccination. You can mandate it if you want, but you can’t require proof of vaccination.”
The lawmaker’s comments come with the Republican-controlled legislature preparing to convene the special session Wednesday addressing COVID-19 mandates.
While Zachary’s measure doesn’t have a Senate sponsor yet, he expressed confidence he will have one, saying, “I’ve talked to a few guys and hopefully I’ll have one tomorrow.”