Tennessee Legislature Seeks To Prohibit Businesses From Requiring Masks, COVID Tests, Vaccinations
Published February 16, 2021
Nashville, TN – On Tuesday, February 9th, Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mount Juliet) filed a bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives that, if passed, would make it unlawful for businesses of public accommodation to create policies requiring consumers to wear masks, take COVID tests, or vaccines, or any other type of medical treatment.
House Bill 0794 (HB0794) is a companion bill to Senate Bill 0320 (SB0320) and they both share the same language:
“Business and Commerce – As introduced, prohibits a person from denying an individual the full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement on the grounds of the wearing or use of a medical device, or whether the individual has received medical treatment. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 58 and Title 68.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Joe Hensley (R-Honhenwald) and Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma).
While this bill aims to protect the individual liberty of consumers, it also protects businesses by removing any liability or potential causes of action against a given business due to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
Another effect is that the bill would remove the burden of policy enforcement on business owners who are currently required by state and locally levied COVID-19 guidelines to police their employees and customers.
According to Gary Humble, Founder of Tennessee Stands, the bill “removes business owners from the threats of cancel culture and the political conversations surrounding masks and other overreaching policies.”
Many Tennesseans are in support of the bill and have even offered to sign petitions in support of the bill.
Lynn Wagner, from Knoxville, says “Is there something we can sign? Tell me what I can do and I’ll do it. I’ll do just about anything at this point. I can’t stand another day looking at these people living in fear, looking at those of us who choose to exercise our God given rights and freedoms to not wear a mask like we are lepers.”
“Is there a phone number we can call to reinforce our feelings in the House? Congratulations getting this as far as you have!!” says Brenda Bliss Delaney from Nashville.
Others Tennesseans doubt the bill will pass.
Andru Evans, from Nashville, says, “Good bill but I doubt it has a chance of passing. Too many politicians have bought into the mask hype or if they haven’t they fear the mass outcry from the mask zealots.”
And some Tennesseans do not support such a bill.
JC Beach, from Murfreesboro, says “So basically… come as you want?? Naked or no shirt??”
“Why do you want to kill people?” asks Jessica Riley.
Regardless, if the bill passes, scenes like the one that happened over the weekend at Chattanooga Billiards Club, where a patron was forcibly removed from the establishment for not wearing a mask, would be a thing of the past.
And the fear business owners have of the “Mask Police” in the form of local Health Department officials would also be alleviated not to mention lawsuits some businesses have been strapped with for non-compliance with COVID-19 mandates.
To those who feel the need to make the comments like:
JC Beach, from Murfreesboro, says “So basically… come as you want?? Naked or no shirt??”
“Why do you want to kill people?” asks Jessica Riley.
Nowhere in this article or bill does it say that you can NOT wear a mask if you choose to do so. That is your right to do so…just like it is my right to NOT wear a mask!
I applaud the legislators who are taking this step to make sure that the rights of ALL people are addressed by this bill.
Yes!! Thank you!
For Your Information The businesses are being hijacked by the governor because he is fining them if they don’t mask mandate so there is the lying evil lift that fine off the business and work places and people will be allowed to shop and work without mask.
As a physician practicing in Williamson County who has high risk family member, is trying to run a business, and is studying the science while trying to apply logic and constitutional rights to a difficult situation….. We need to STOP THE FEAR which makes a common sense bill like this harder to pass. The comparison to “come as you are…naked” and the “… kill everybody” are emotionally laden straw men and simplistic. This law protects business owners from playing doctor for their customers and being liable for their “medical” actions. There is much more to this than people’s health or mask wearing. This crisis does not necessitate restricting constitutional rights indefinitely nor infringing on people’s ability to live normal lives. I pray that we can return to sane reasoning both in the legislature and the public forum. We must overcome the fear and make wise decisions. This bill is a wise move in the right direction.
Thank you, Dr. Potter, you are so right. I believe the hype and constant reminder of numbers, I.E. number of new cases of Covid 19, number of new deaths from Covid 19, number of people in the hospital with Covid19, is something that should stop. Why do we need to know this everyday?
Perhaps we should announce daily the number of people killed in auto accidents, etc.
Shouldn’t we take comfort in the number of people who have not become ill due to Covid 19?
I believe Covid19 is here to stay. However, understanding the basics of how disease is spread, and how to prevent the spread of disease, generally speaking, will mitigate spread of all disease. That use to be the norm. That is common sense.
I hope this becomes law.
Yes, I agree. There is a reason that mainstream media and many medical institutions stopped displaying the number of RECOVERIES, recoveries do not keep the people under control. The High Recoveries numbers give hope and understanding to the fact that COVID is not an uncontrollable plague.
I love this idea!! It’s time to realize this is not a FATAL disease. Let us the people make decisions for OURSELVES!! Pass this bill please.
I agree, this mask thing is so out of hand. We are only here on this Earth for a certain amount if time and you are not leaving until God calls you home. Please remember this. I am sick if this mask wearing and it blows my mind when I have to go out in public and see this nonsencen of everyone with muzzled on like a dog. Stop the insanity, I can only imagine what it us doing to our kids. It must be blowing their little minds. God help us take away this fear mongering.
Pass These bills: SB 0320 and HB 0794 since this addresses the “liability issue” that is under all of these “recommendations” and “mandates” at business establishments. NO MANDATED MEDICAL REQUIRMENTS from Local, State or Federal levels of American government. No FORCE for or against, people who want to continue on in this “MASKED MISCHIEF”, that’s your decision, but you can not FORCE others because of what you personally want to do. You are FREE to wear or NOT to wear. For God & Country
What are you guys sniffing? policy for NO MASKS?! So that means that I have to worry about someone coughing or sneezing on me in a store, because the owners don’t have the gonads to tell them like it is! Shame on you. I will say this, I have stopped shopping at 3 different stores now because of this ignorance. Shame on you for only worrying about the business owners and not the general public!!
Yes, let’s pass this bill! Excellent!
Yes, from California, please pass this bill !
GOOD!!
I want out of this mask! I am not sick! Who can I call? Where can I sign? When is this being voted on? It can’t happen soon enough! People who are sick – stay home. People who are afraid by all means wear a mask! I am neither but this mask is KILLING ME! I CAN’T BREATH!
This is good news!! The many businesses requiring masks were probably protecting themselves from liability claims but after this long and with the vaccine available for those who want to be vaccinated, I say enough is enough. Masks worn in this manner dehumanize us. Our smiles are not visible and we can’t even recognize people we know. When the mask mandate expires, then the stores and businesses should no longer require masks for their patrons. I would sign this in a microsecond!
Pass this NOW!!!! Enough of this Nonsense created by democrats!!!!!
This bill needs to pass, not only for Tennesseeans’ individual rights granted to them by the U.S. Constitution but also to protect businesses from lawsuits that add a further burden to them during these trying times.
It’s time to start reviving from covid, yes it’s a bad virus, but so is H1A1 flu and vaccinations don’t always protect you from that and individuals still lose their life to it if they are one of the categories that are susceptible to it and can be devastating to their life. We need to manage covid as we do all other flus, treat when needed vaccinate when a shot is found to help and live our lives. Stop this fear and isolation.
YES!!!! GO Susan Lynn!! Will this include Doctor’s offices? Because that has been a major sticking point for me. I haven’t physically visited my doctor in over a year because I refuse to wear a mask!
“Is there a phone number we can call to reinforce our feelings in the House? Congratulations getting this as far as you have!!” says Brenda Bliss Delaney from Nashville.
Yes Is there? I will Gladly call every day if need be!
I agree, this mask thing is so out of hand. We are only here on this Earth for a certain amount if time and you are not leaving until God calls you home. Please remember this. I am sick if this mask wearing and it blows my mind when I have to go out in public and see this nonsencen of everyone with muzzled on like a dog. Stop the insanity, I can only imagine what it us doing to our kids. It must be blowing their little minds. God help us take away this fear mongering.
When will we know this bill has passed?
Yes, please pass this bill. We’re from California and this mask wearing has gotten out of hand.
Please do something.
I am in complete support of this bill. The mask is a muzzle conditioning people to be obedient to the government and it bureaucrats. Canada and Australia are fining people and businesses everyday for not wearing masks or trying to open their businesses. It is wrong and if Americans keep allowing this overreach of government, America will be doomed to fall under the same tyranny.
I have been to the airport standing in a zig zag line, wearing a mask six feet from the person in front of me while being 2 feet apart from the person standing next to me in line. Then I sit in a plane for a three hour flight, in a three seat row right next to two other people, breathing recirculated air, playing the food/drink mask game of mask off for bites and sips and on again while I chew my food. That is logical?! That makes sense?! In Nashville yesterday, I had to wear a mask to get into Hattie B’s to order my food only to go ten feet away to my table, wait for and eat my food and consume my drink all while being mask-less. With all our medical cures and advancements of handling viruses and diseases through the years, COVID-19 is just beyond the scope of our medical community today? I don’t buy the narrative.