Your voice and action matters...

Health Freedom Ohio advocates often meet and build genuine relationships with legislators and testify before committees on key legislation to proactively preserve our fundamental right to health freedom.

The willingness and passion to educate, combined with the humility of knowing that advocating for what is right is a learning experience deserving of mutual respect and recognition, are key to successful engagements with those who have the capability to impact current and future legislation. 

You also have the power to make such impact by showing up in truth and letting your voice be heard. Contact us today if you are interested in becoming an active voice in preserving health freedom. Find your Legislator here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/district-maps

Below you will find current legislation we are supporting or opposing.

Please consider joining us by becoming a member to receive special newsletters, calls to action, and event announcements. You can also connect with us on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/hfo4you/

Sub HB248 - Introduction

Bill Status: H.B. 248 is scheduled to have its first (Sponsor) hearing on Tuesday May 18^th in the House Health Committee at which point the substitute bill (Sub. H.B. 248) will be introduced.

Substitute House Bill 248 - Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act

• Prohibits mandatory vaccinations, vaccination status disclosures, vaccination passports, tracking and certain other actions regarding vaccinations, individual’s rights and privacy.
• Establishes that individuals have a right to direct their own health care decisions, free from coercion or penalty, and with informed consent, for themselves, their children, their family, and anyone for whom they stand in loco parentis.
• Requires schools to notify a pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian of their right to exempt.
• Strengthens children’s vaccination exemptions by emphasizing that they shall honor the exemptions from the immunization requirements described in the Ohio revised codes pertaining to children. Sections 5104.014 – Medical Statement of Immunizations and Section 3313.671 – proof of Required Immunizations – Exemptions.
• Establishes that individuals have a right to expect that their personal privacy rights remain protected, specifically private health information.
• “No person, public official or employee, public agency, state agency, political subdivision, school, child day-care center, nursing home, residential care facility, health care provider, insurer, institution, or employer shall mandate, require, or otherwise request an individual to disclose the individual's vaccine status, participation in a vaccine passport system, vaccine registry, or other mechanism that is designed for the purpose of tracking an individual's vaccine status, and disclose an individual's vaccination status.”
• It establishes that “individuals shall not be discriminated against based on their personal health choices.”
• Establish penalties for violations

See bill for more details. Link to bill language:  Vaccine Choice Updated Draft-sub.pdf

HB202 - Introduction

Bill Status: H.B. 202 was introduced on March 10 by the Sponsor, Jena Powell, and awaits additional hearings in the House Government Oversight Committee. 

House Bill 202 - Removes Statewide Mask Mandates

• A bill that intends to void the order of the Interim Director of Health requiring the use of facial coverings throughout the state and prohibit the Governor or other administrative department heads from requiring the use of facial coverings without approval by the General Assembly by adopting a concurrent resolution.
• House Bill 202 also prohibits any statewide mask mandates by the Governor or any department director during the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency, unless approved by the General Assembly.
• The bill currently has 23 cosponsors.
• Currently, 24 states do not have a statewide mask mandate.   

See bill for more details. Link to bill language:

HB253 - Introduction

Bill Status: H.B. 253 is scheduled to be introduced by the bill Sponsor, Al Cutrona, on May 18^th in the House Health Committee. It will be introduced with amendments that will focus on making vaccine passport technology illegal in the state of Ohio.

House Bill No. 253 - Prohibits COVID-19 Vaccine Passports

• Establishes that “no individual shall be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter either of the following: (a) The state;(b) A building or facility controlled, operated, or owned by a state agency.”
•  “No political subdivision or state agency shall adopt, enact, or issue an order, ordinance, resolution, rule, or other law that requires an individual to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19.”
• Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 may include a digital application available on a smartphone, tablet, or other device that demonstrates that an individual has been vaccinated against COVID-19, including through the use of a scannable code.
• Establishes that information regarding an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status remains confidential.
• “Except as required by federal law, no person, political subdivision, or state agency that acquires information regarding an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status shall disclose or release the information to another person, political subdivision, or state agency without the individual's written consent.”
• The bill currently has 17 cosponsors.   

See bill for more details. Link to bill language:

SB 169 - Introduction

Bill Status: S.B. 169 has been introduced by the sponsor, Senator Brenner. yet to be referred to a committee. It will likely be referred to the Senate Health Committee. 

Senate Bill 169

• A bill that would prohibit mandatory vaccinations against the coronavirus, as well as proof of vaccinations generally, and to declare an emergency.
• “A person, political subdivision, public official, or state agency shall not mandate either directly or indirectly the administration of a vaccine used for the purpose of inducing in human’s immunity against a coronavirus.”
• “An adult individual shall not be required for any reason to be vaccinated against a coronavirus unless the individual chooses to be vaccinated against that coronavirus.”
• “An adult individual who is incapacitated shall not be required for any reason to be vaccinated against a coronavirus unless the legal guardian of the incapacitated adult chooses to have the incapacitated adult vaccinated against that coronavirus.”
• “A minor individual shall not be required for any reason to be vaccinated against a coronavirus unless the minor's parent or legal guardian chooses to have the minor vaccinated against that coronavirus.”
• “A person, political subdivision, public official, or state agency shall not require an individual to show proof of vaccination or provide the individual's vaccination history or status.”
• Information regarding an individual's vaccination history or status is confidential.
• An individual's vaccination history or status shall not be disclosed or released to another person, political subdivision, or state agency without the individual's written consent.
• “This act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that vaccines have been developed against SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus, and are now being administered to Ohio residents. Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.”
• Amendments were submitted and are going through LSC to strengthen this legislation with language that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of vaccination status.
• The bill currently has 3 cosponsors.

See bill for more details. Link to bill language:

SB22 - Passed

SB22 has been passed by both the House and the Senate. 
It was vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine and the veto was overridden.
This bill will become law on June 23, 2021

For information on this bill and what it includes click here https://ohiohouse.gov/legislation/134/sb22

"Vermont, Washington, Ohio and Hawaii are among the worst-ranking states because they bestow on their governors the sole authority to determine when and where an emergency exists, and when an emergency ceases to exist."

Source:

https://mainepolicy.org/project/emergency-powers/

House Bill 90

HB90 has shown to have tremendous support from Ohioans, business owners, and many elected members of government. However, it has not moved out of committee as of yet. 

HB 90 establishes legislative oversight of the Governor's executive orders, certain public health orders, and emergency rules, including by establishing the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee.

• Permits the General Assembly to rescind orders and emergency declarations issued by the Governor and certain orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and to invalidate emergency rules adopted by any state agency. 
• Terminates certain executive orders after 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee, and grants the Committee the power to rescind certain orders and rules issued by the Governor, ODH, and other agencies. 
• Limits the duration of a state of emergency to 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• Limits the duration of emergency rules issued by an agency in response to a public health state of emergency to 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• During a public health state of emergency, requires the Governor and ODH to report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives any actions taken in response to the emergency. 
• Subjects existing orders and emergency declarations issued by the Governor and certain existing orders and rules issued by ODH to review and rescission by the General Assembly and the Committee. 
• Terminates existing executive orders issued by the Governor, certain existing orders and rules issued by ODH, and rules adopted, amended, or rescinded by a state agency on an emergency basis, in response to a public health state of emergency 30 days after the bill’s effective date unless extended by the General Assembly.

Recent amendments have generalized the limits to apply to other sections of Ohio Revised Code under which the governor and Department of Health were claiming powers, automatic expiration of any rule or order after 30 days (with legislature authority to extend the order), prohibits any restrictions from extending beyond 30 days, allows lawsuits to stay within county of origin (versus having to be tried in Franklin County), and adds attorney fees for prevailing parties.

Bill text:
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-90

For tips on advocacy, please visit:
https://healthfreedomohio.org/Advocacy-Portal

Sample script:

“Hello Speaker Cupp, my name is _____________ and I am a concerned citizen in Ohio calling to ask for your support of HB90 and to ensure it moves quickly. The overreaching orders issued over the last several months by the Governor and the Health Director have affected me/my family in the following ways ________. Ohio needs checks and balances by giving the legislature the ability to rescind these orders. We need HB90 passed as soon as possible to help alleviate the many harms done to Ohio’s citizens, businesses, and economy.”

Read more about HB90.

Speaker Robert Cupp (R-Lima)
rep04@ohiohouse.gov
77 South High Street
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-9624

HB 90 - Support

HB 90 establishes legislative oversight of the Governor's executive orders, certain public health orders, and emergency rules, including by establishing the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee.

• Permits the General Assembly to rescind orders and emergency declarations issued by the Governor and certain orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and to invalidate emergency rules adopted by any state agency. 
• Terminates certain executive orders after 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee, and grants the Committee the power to rescind certain orders and rules issued by the Governor, ODH, and other agencies. 
• Limits the duration of a state of emergency to 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• Limits the duration of emergency rules issued by an agency in response to a public health state of emergency to 30 days unless extended by the General Assembly. 
• During a public health state of emergency, requires the Governor and ODH to report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives any actions taken in response to the emergency. 
• Subjects existing orders and emergency declarations issued by the Governor and certain existing orders and rules issued by ODH to review and rescission by the General Assembly and the Committee. 
• Terminates existing executive orders issued by the Governor, certain existing orders and rules issued by ODH, and rules adopted, amended, or rescinded by a state agency on an emergency basis, in response to a public health state of emergency 30 days after the bill’s effective date unless extended by the General Assembly.

Bill text:

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-90

Please contact the House State and Local Government Committee and ask them to support HB90.

Contact the House State and Local Government Committee

Proponent Testimony February 17, 2021

Opponent Testimony February 24, 2021

Read Testimonies here:

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-committee-documents?id=GA134-HB-90