Bill would prohibit ‘vaccine passports’ for government, but not businesses

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Al Cutrona of Canfield, R-59th, on Monday formally introduced his bill prohibiting mandated "vaccine passports" in Ohio.

Ohio House Bill 253 keeps state agencies and political subdivisions like health departments, cities, counties, townships and school districts from requiring people to show proof they've been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state, acknowledging a person's vaccination status is "confidential."

The bill would apply to people trying to enter Ohio or state-controlled buildings, but not courts.

However, the prohibition doesn't appear to apply to privately owned businesses, language for which doesn't appear in the two-page bill.

That proof could be offered through a digital application on a smartphone or tablet, reads the bill.

New York's "Excelsior Pass" is envisioned as an app that displays a QR code pointing to the user's vaccination record. Venue-goers may be asked to show the record before attending events, Cutrona said in a news release last month.

"Ohioans are encouraged to take the COVID-19 vaccine for the health and well-being of themselves and others," Cutrona is quoted in the release. "However, a vaccine should not be mandated or required by our government for our people to integrate back to a sense of normalcy. We've had restrictions on our freedoms for over a year and more restrictions or mandates are not the answer to every issue related to COVID-19."

The bill also stops subdivisions and state agencies from sharing individuals' vaccination records, unless required by federal law.

Gov. Mike DeWine, who addressed vaccine passports during a Thursday briefing on the state's coronavirus response, said the state doesn't have its own plans to implement a vaccine verification system, but added "businesses can make their own decision" on them. He said he expects the free market will decide whether to adopt them.

State Rep. Mike Loychik of Bazetta, R-63rd, is a cosponsor.

Neither he nor Cutrona could immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

House Bill 253 has not yet been assigned to a committee.

This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Bill would prohibit ‘vaccine passports’ for government, but not businesses."