Bill > HB943

This bill, known as the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Freedom Act, establishes legal protections for individuals' right to provide or withhold informed consent for COVID-19 vaccination. The bill prohibits compelling or coercing individuals into receiving a COVID-19 vaccine against their preference and requires healthcare providers to obtain explicit informed consent before administering the vaccine. Healthcare providers are forbidden from administering the vaccine without clear consent, and individuals cannot face adverse actions or penalties for refusing vaccination. If a healthcare provider violates these provisions, they can be held liable for at least $5,000 in damages, and the attorney general can seek injunctive relief to prevent further violations. The bill defines an individual as lacking capacity to provide informed consent if they have been compelled or coerced into vaccination, and it builds upon established legal principles of informed consent from medical ethics and previous court decisions. The legislation reflects concerns about potential COVID-19 vaccine mandates and aims to protect individual medical autonomy, ensuring that people lawfully residing in Texas have the final say in their medical treatment related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB943