Each week, AIM staff compile new and moving legislation in jurisdictions all over the country.
This legislative summary is for the week of May 20, 2022.
Please Note: AIM is striving to monitor fast-moving state legislative developments. The information included in this summary may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. Please consult the linked jurisdiction websites for the most up-to-date information on each bill. If you are aware of missing information, please notify us. For individualized support, contact AIM Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer Brent Ewig. AIM would like to thank ASTHO for the ongoing partnership and support that makes these summaries possible and invite you to check out AIM’s Policy Toolkit for more legislative resources.
Enacted Legislation
COVID-19
- GA HB 963 was enacted on 5/13/22. Adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of Schedule IV drugs in the state of Georgia.
Authority to Administer Vaccines
- IL HB 4929 was enacted on 5/13/22. This bill provides that a licensed optometrist may independently administer the influenza vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine, or the shingles vaccine upon completion of the required training. It also states that vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19 shall be limited to patients five years of age and older.
- MD HB 286 was enacted on 5/16/22. This bill delays the effective date of certain provisions of law that repeal the authority of paramedics to administer influenza and COVID-19 immunizations under certain circumstances, relates to the authority of paramedics to administer immunizations.
Preparedness
- CO HB 22-1401 was enacted on 5/18/22. This bill is related to health facility preparedness. In addition to other matters, it would authorize fines of up to $10,000 per day for a hospital’s failure to have the correct amount of necessary vaccines available to administer its emergency plan.
Movement on Existing Bills
COVID-19, Mandates, and Exemptions
- MO HB 2331 was sent to Governor on 5/18/22. This bill would prohibit consideration of COVID-19 vaccination status of organ transplant recipients or donors.
- LA HCR 3, which would have repealed the COVID-19 vaccine requirement to attend school, was defeated in the Senate Committee for Health and Welfare in a 4-3 vote. The bill had previously passed the House in a 69-30 vote. The conversation amongst parent supporters of this bill has now moved towards how to obtain exemptions for their children.
Parental/Minor Consent
- CA SB 866 passed the Senate and will move to the House. The bill authorizes children over the age of 12 to be able to make decisions about vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, without parental consent.
Gaining Media Attention
- Oregon Department of Corrections worker files class-action lawsuit over vaccine status data leak. Oregon mandated in August 2021 that all employees be vaccinated or apply for an exemption by October 18, 2021. However, on the day of the deadline, an external relations manager sent an email out to a news outlet with a confidential document containing all employees’ names and vaccination statuses. News outlets never published the names or vaccine statuses of individuals. In a new class-action lawsuit filed in Marion County, state employees claimed that unauthorized users accessed the data, and the content was used to intimidate and harass the employees.
- New York vaccine-opposing group called on supporters to oppose NY A7829, which would require COVID-19 vaccine for post-secondary students, and NY A8378, which would authorize the state’s health commissioner to develop and execute a program to require immunization against COVID-19 to attend school.