Lawmakers in Idaho have voted to pass a new bill that bans mandates for “vaccines” or other “medical interventions” in the state.
It’ll now be up to Republican Gov. Brad Little to sign the legislation into state law.
House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1023 to implement such a ban.
Under the bill, private businesses in Idaho would be prohibited from refusing to serve customers or hiring employees who make their own decisions regarding their personal health.
The law would also apply to public and private schools, as well as every government entity in the state.
Rep. Robert Beiswenger (R-Horseshoe Bend), one of the bill’s chief sponsors, said:
“When this bill is signed into law, Idaho will have the best health freedom laws in the country.”
The proposal significantly broadens an existing law banning Covid “vaccine” mandates to include any “medical treatment.”
Vaccination, medications and all other tactics used to treat communicable diseases fall under the definition of “medical treatment.”
The bill would prevent local governments and businesses from requiring any proof of “medical intervention,” which includes any “procedures, treatments, devices, drug injections, medications, or actions taken to diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease.”
The bill exempts businesses whose employees travel internationally and are required to get particular vaccinations to enter certain countries.
Clinics and hospitals that accept Medicare or Medicaid funds would also be exempt.
Unsurprisingly, state Democrats are pushing back against the legislation.
House Democrat Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) said the proposal goes too far.
“[This bill] says they can’t make you bandage oozing wounds, that they can’t make you get lice treatments, that they can’t make you cover your mouth if you have ebola and you’re coughing on people,” Rubel said.
Rubel compared the push for medical freedom to the Left’s radical ideology agenda.
She and other Democrats in the Idaho legislature have tried for more than a decade to add “gender identity” to the state’s anti-discrimination law to no avail.
“I was told that that was way too much of an infringement on the freedom of the private sector,” Rubel said.
She argues that the different attitudes toward these issues are “quite stunning.”
Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls), is one of 14 Republicans to vote against the bill.
“I’m all for personal medical freedom,” Mickelsen said.
“What I am concerned about is that that personal medical freedom then puts other people at risk, businesses at risk, their reputations at risk.”
She gave a hypothetical example of businesses not being able to turn away someone with an active measles case.
However, the notion was shot down by the bill’s advocates.
Rep. Cornel Rasor (R-Sagle) noted that business employees are not responsible for diagnosing customers, saying:
“I want to meet the person who can diagnose measles when a person walks in their door, in their business.”
Rep. Lucas Cayler (R-Caldwell) agreed.
Cayler said the argument that this policy would supercharge the spread of communicable diseases is “negligible.”
“Because it’s a part of life,” said Cayler.
“It’s always been a part of life.
“It’s what makes us human.
“We have immune systems and those immune systems, by and large, regulate.”
The proposal already passed the Senate.
Once it hits Gov. Little’s desk, he’ll have five days to sign, veto, or let the bill pass into law without his signature.
If signed by Little, the law will take effect on July 1.
READ MORE – Largest Ever Covid ‘Vaccine’ Study Confirms 610% Spike in Heart Failure
