Republicans Kill Bill That Would Have Protected Religious And Medical Freedoms (Update 3.9.23)
***Update – 3.9.23 – Representative Esther Helton-Haynes replied to constituent with her reasoning for not supporting the bill. The article has been updated with this information.
Image Credit: ABEL F. ROS | Qapta.es | CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
On Tuesday before the Tennessee House Population Health Subcommittee, a bill with the very specific goals of guaranteeing every person’s right to refuse a vaccine if it violates their religious beliefs, was swiftly and with very little ceremony killed, with no discussion or vote.
HB0264 as introduced, prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from requiring an immunization unless exemptions are provided for persons who file signed, written statements affirming that the immunization conflicts with their religious tenets and practices; makes certain other changes related to immunizations. – Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 68.
Had the bill survived the legislative process, any person who submitted a religious exemption to avoid a vaccine being forced on them as a contingency for participation in society, attend school, or keep their job, would have had their religious freedom as well as their medical freedom guaranteed.
The Tennessee Conservative spoke to the bill’s sponsor, freshman Representative Bryan Richey (R-D20-Maryville) about the way those on the House Population Health Subcommittee dealt with his bill and he had this to say: “After receiving over 1,000 emails in support of this legislation the subcommittee didn’t even want to take it up. I guess with this being the only bill on the agenda for this committee today their time was more important than religious freedoms!”
After the bill received a motion to be heard by Representative Bryan Terry (R-D48-Murfreesboro), Chairperson Michelle Carringer (R-D16-Knoxville), called for a 2nd to the motion, a necessary step in the process to hear the presentation of any bill being offered.
What followed was silence from the other three Republicans on the committee that were present. Representative Iris Rudder, (R-D39-Winchester), Representative Esther Helton-Haynes (R-D30-East Ridge) and Representative Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar (R-D66-Springfield) all sat silent, choosing to allow the death of the bill, instead of acting in support, as their constituents have asked them to do.
The lack of second motion for the bill to be heard allowed committee members to avoid what would have likely been a roll call vote, which would have forced their opposition to the bill to be recorded.
However, it is worth noting, at least the three who failed to support the bill managed to attend the committee hearing.
Representative Ron Travis (R-D31-Dayton) and Representative Andrew Farmer (D-17-Sevierville) were absent from the meeting, with no explanation for their absence.
Representative Esther Helton-Haynes told a constituent that she does “support religious exemptions” and is “against forced vaccines/immunization.”
She wrote, “I have co-sponsored legislation in the past to protect these. I reached out to our legal department that drafts our bills to get more info on this piece of legislation and from that info listed below are the reasons I did not support HB 264, with one of the main reasons being is that it weakened our laws for religious exemptions! There are already religious exemptions in the code, HB 264 would weaken our religious exemptions in the state. HB 264 by Richey doesn’t cover Covid Vaccines, which is already covered in the code for children and exemptions Under current law kids/parents do not have to provide proof for their religious exemptions, this bill puts the burden on families to prove their exemption HB 264 only relates to an epidemic such as measles and whooping cough, and only applies to kids’ vaccines for school.”
If you would like to express your opinion to those republican representatives mentioned in this article, you can find their contact info here.
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Absolutely disgusting, I am so disappointed. Tyranny under the BS lies of “we care about you” just take our disgusting little bio-weapon and be a good little do-be and shut up about your myocarditis, your blood clots and strokes, this is for THE GREATER GOOD of depopulation, how dare you object! Un-freaking believable. 🤬
Couldn’t have said it better! It’s sad. We deserve much better representation
Vote them out it’s that simple
The State should have NO AUTHORITY over its people to force vaccinations. Informed decisions should be made and the risks accessed by the parents and adults. Our founding Fathers lived during a time of many health Epidemics, yet they make no provision in our rights to allow our freedoms to be taken for any type of pandemic.
Why I DESPISE TNGOP and the RINO pukes they allow to run as Republicans.
They’re KILLING our State.
Goes to show that Conservatives need our own party
Remember THEY DID NOT have to take the jab. How convenient. I wrote the 3 who did not 2nd the vote and told them they participated in a DERELICTION OF DUTY, but they were good at something- showing us how childish and unprofessional they are. I suggested they warrant a recall. What wusses.
This is a load of bull. This bill needs to be re-introduced to protect Freedom, This is a personal choice not a Government power grab.
Bryan Richey takes more money from big pharma than anyone else on the health committees. I don’t trust anything he does related to medical legislation. But more importantly, WHY is a “religious exemption” even necessary. Saying “NO!” is my right, and I don’t need a reason or explanation, religious or otherwise.