Legislature SB 7 Vote On Vaccine Mandates

#SB7, carried by Jeff Leach that will prohibit private employers from mandating the COVID-19 vax as a condition of employment

Brian Harrison offers an amendment that would strike the employer language and replace it with the much broader "a person'‘.

Harrison brings up another amendment. Immediately POOd by Zwiener on the same grounds. This amendment would add the protection to medical school students or applicants.

POO sustained.

Next by Briscoe Cain: would expand the bill to apply to medical and nursing school students. Does this by redefining "contractor" in such a way to encompass those individuals. Leach addressing it, saying he is accepting the amendment. Zwiener calls a POO.

Zwiener seems to be on the back foot in this argument with the parliamentarians. The previous two were pretty quick decisions in her direction. parliamentarians will rule for Cain. Zwiener cited a comment made at the front mic but they were not swayed. There'll be a record vote on this.

Amendment passes 88-59.

4 Democrats join Republicans

Next amendment by Chris Turner would exempt health care facilities/offices and child-care facilities from the ban.

Turner amendment voted down 61-84.

Next by Rafael Ancha would protect health care facilities/providers from adverse action by the state. Voted down 62-83.

Next Jim Toth would increase the penalty from $10k to $50k.

Leach said the increase would "kill the bill," and said that Mayes Middleton opposes it. Harrison from the back mic says that he spoke with Middleton today, who expressed support for the amendment.

After a back and forth, the Toth amendment passes 87-57. All time floor quote from Leach, dropping his opposition to the amendment: "I can see something is afoot."

Tinderholt would require an employer found in violation of this law to hire the applicant they rejected, or reinstate the fired employee with back pay.

Immediate POO called by the Dems.

POO sustained on the grounds that it orders mandatory action by the Tx workforce