Legislators, back in Madison following a break for the holidays, will debate several bills that will impact Wisconsin’s small business community, including one that would forbid government officials and business owners from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition to receive services, building access, participation in events, or business transactions.
Assembly Bill 299, introduced by Representative Tyler August (Lake Geneva) and Representative Treig Pronschinske (Mondovi), has passed the Assembly 60-37, and is being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health.
Lawmakers are also debuting a proposal that would prohibit discrimination based on vaccination status.
Senate Bill 337, introduced by Senator Andre Jacque (DePere) and Senator Duey Stroebel (Saukville), would ensure that discrimination based on vaccine status would be prohibited in all areas of society.
According to the authors, current law allows vaccine exemptions for medical, religious, or personal reasons for day care, K-12 students, and during a declared state of emergency. However, there are no employment protections based on vaccine status, or protections to ensure individuals have access to housing, medical care, higher education, life, or health insurance when a person chooses not to receive a vaccine.
Senate Bill 337 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health. A companion proposal, Assembly Bill 303, introduced by Gae Magnafici (Dresser), has been recommended for passage 6-3 by the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics, and referred to the Committee on Rules.
