Peach Tree Times

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill to ban state agencies, local school districts, and city and county governments from requiring their staff members or the public to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Though the legislation implements a ban on “vaccine passports" for local government agencies, it would not stop the governor from requiring vaccines as a part of his emergency powers, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

"We are protecting people from having to show their vaccine passport at the door of the Department of Driver Services to get their driver's license or to go into a court building to file a deed," state Rep. Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee), who carried the measure in the House, said.

Even while insisting that she is vaccinated, Rich argued the decision should be left up to individual Georgians and their families, Fox 5 said. Among the opposition, Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) said the fundamental responsibility of the government is to protect its citizens, adding that vaccinations are one of two inventions that have sustained, prolonged and protected human life. 

The bill was aimed at two metro Atlanta cities that, at least at one time, had policies requiring their employees to be vaccinated or undergo regular COVID-19 surveillance testing, Fox 5 reported. 

If passed, the law would be automatically repealed on June 30, 2023, Fox 5 said. While the legislation originated in the Senate, changes by the House will require the bill to undergo another Senate vote before being sent to the governor’s desk.