© 2024 WYSO
Our Community. Our Nation. Our World.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Huffman sees potential in the House anti-vaccine mandate bill

 Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) speaks to reporters at a press conference in June 2021.
Statehouse News Bureau
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) speaks to reporters at a press conference in June 2021.

The Republican leader of the Ohio Senate says they're going to hold several hearings on a House bill, HB218, that bans certain vaccine mandates and grants broad exemptions.

Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) says the anti-vaccine mandate bill could be the right vehicle to tackle COVID-19 vaccine policies, but he’s not committing to a floor vote yet.

Huffman adds there's hesitation to regulate businesses.

"I think the sweet spot is how is it that we can draft this to make sure that people aren't being forced to quit their jobs and at the same time, you know, the maximum amount of protection? And I think this bill gets the closest to that of any that I've seen," says Huffman.

Business groups and health care organizations are opposed to the bill, saying they're against regulations on private businesses and that the policy hurts efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.