Oppose Proposed Senate Bill
URGENT - Proposed Senate Bill
OAMF opposes a proposed Senate Bill which would remove some vaccine exemption rights for ALL Ohio students.
On July 6, 2019, the Dayton Daily News reported that “Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, is pushing a bill to only allow Ohio children to skip vaccinations for medical reasons… Lehner and state Sen. Sandra Williams, D-Cleveland, this week asked colleagues to join them in sponsoring a bill to remove all non-medical exemptions from vaccine requirements for children attending public schools or child care facilities.”
This is where your help and vigilance is required. If passed, this bill will remove philosophical and religious exemptions exemptions for ALL Ohio students, leaving only medical. In California, legislation that removed philosophical and religious exemptions last year was swiftly followed by the loss of medical exemptions this year, virtually ending exemptions in the prototype state.
Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom is disappointed that any of our elected officials would pander to special interest groups in this manner and remove Ohioan’s rights to bodily autonomy and informed consent.
The Schools Affected by this Proposed Legislation
Presumably ALL Ohio school students would be affected by this proposed bill (specific bill language has not yet been released).
Take Action Now
CALL, email, Facebook message, or visit if you can, the Senators to express your disapproval of this proposed bill. Contact info below.
CALL, email, Facebook message, or visit if you can, your State Senator to express your disapproval of this proposed bill. Find your Senator.
DONATE to Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom so we can continue to work against legislation like this.
Who to Contact – Bill Sponsors
Please contact the two State Senators who are reportedly seeking co-sponsorship of this legislation and politely let them know that you oppose any legislation that may be introduced to remove any vaccine exemption rights for any Ohio student. Here’s their contact info:
Senator Peggy Lehner (R) – District 06 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-4538 – Lehner@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/StateSenatorPeggyLehner/
Senator Sandra Williams (D) – District 21 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-4857 – Williams@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSWilliams/
Who Else to Contact – All Other Ohio Senators
Please consider also contacting your State Senator and politely let them know that you oppose any legislation that may be introduced to remove any vaccine exemption rights for any Ohio student. Here’s their contact info:
Senator Rob McColley (R) – District 01 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8150 – McColley@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/McColley4Ohio/
Senator Theresa Gavarone (R) – District 02 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8060 – Gavarone@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/theresagavarone/
Senator Tina Maharath (D) – District 03 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8064 – Maharath@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/TinaOHSen3/
Senator Bill Coley (R) – District 04 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8072 – Coley@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/BillColeyOH/
Senator Steve Huffman (R) – District 05 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-6247 – Huffman-S@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/statesenatorstevehuffman/
Senator Steve Wilson (R) – District 07 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-9737 – Wilson@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SteveWilsonOhio
Senator Louis Terhar (R) – District 08 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8068 – Terhar@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/lyrasforcongress/
Senator Cecil Thomas (D) – District 09 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5980 – Thomas@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/CecilThomasOH/
Senator Bob Hackett (R) – District 10 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-3780 – Hackett@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenHackettOH/
Senator Teresa Fedor (D) – District 11 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5204 – Fedor@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/repteresafedor/
Senator Matt Huffman (R) – District 12 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-7584 – Huffman@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/MattHuffmanOH/
Senator Nathan Manning (R) – District 13 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-644-7613 – Manning@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/ManningForOhio/
Senator Joe Uecker (R) – District 14 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8082 – Uecker@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenUecker/
Senator Hearcel Craig (D) – District 15 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5131 – Craig@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/Craig4Ohio/
Senator Stephanie Kunze (R) – District 16 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5981 – Kunze@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/StephanieKunzeOhio/
Senator Bob Peterson (R) – District 17 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8156 – Peterson@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/BobPetersonOH/
Senator John Eklund (R) – District 18 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-644-7718 – Eklund@ohiosenate.gov
Senator Andrew Brenner (R) – District 19 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8086 – Brenner@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/BrennerForOhio/
Senator Tim Schaffer (R) – District 20 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8076 – Schaffer@ohiosenate.gov
Senator Larry Obhof (R) – District 22 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-7505 – Obhof@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/LarryObhofOH/
Senator Nickie Antonio (D) – District 23 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5123 – Antonio@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/nickiejantonio/
Senator Matt Dolan (R) – District 24 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8056 – Dolan@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/electmattdolan/
Senator Kenny Yuko (D) – District 25 – 1 Capitol Square, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-4583 – Yuko@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenatorYuko/
Senator David Burke (R) – District 26 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8049 – Burke@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/BurkeforOhio/
Senator Kristina Roegner (R) – District 27 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-4823 – Roegner@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/electkristinaroegner/
Senator Vernon Sykes (D) – District 28 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-7041 – Sykes@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenatorVernonSykes/
Senator Kirk Schuring (R) – District 29 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-0626 – Schuring@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SchuringForOhio/
Senator Frank Hoagland (R) – District 30 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-6508 – Hoagland@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/HoaglandForOhio/
Senator Jay Hottinger (R) – District 31 – 1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-5838 – Hottinger@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/Senator-Jay-Hottinger-718079294983807/
Senator Sean O’Brien (D) – District 32 – 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-7182 – Obrien@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSeanOBrien/
Senator Michael Rulli (R) – District 33 – 1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – 614-466-8285 – Rulli@ohiosenate.gov – https://www.facebook.com/rulliforsenate/
Support House Bill 132
OAMF supports HB132, providing parents exemption information.
Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, other organizations, and many informed parents have spent endless hours trying to educate concerned parents who come to us regarding their exemption rights.
For years, Ohio parents have been confused about Ohio exemption law due to incorrect, inaccurate, or deliberately misleading letters and forms that schools send home annually, or sometimes multiples times per school year, notifying parents that unimmunized children will be withheld from school if they do not receive their vaccinations by a specific date; often times the date the school provides isn’t even congruent with state law.
In the state of Ohio (ORC Ann. § 3313.671 Proof of required immunizations – exceptions):
Various vaccinations are required at various grade levels in order for a child to participate in school.
Students who don’t present written evidence of these vaccinations by the fourteenth day of school are to be excluded from school.
HOWEVER, parents are permitted to opt-out of ANY or ALL of these vaccinations by simply providing their child’s school “written statement” declining “to have the pupil immunized for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions”, OR a statement from a physician which certifies “that such immunization against any disease is medically contraindicated”.
Ohio House Bill 132 does not change current vaccine mandates in Ohio. It would, however, require that schools mention vaccine exemption law at the same time and in the same manner as they mention state vaccine mandates. The legislation will ensure that parents are adequately informed of their options when presented information from schools regarding vaccine requirements. Specifically:
“When a school, board of education, or governing authority of a school notifies a pupil or the pupil’s parent or guardian of the immunization requirements described in section 3313.671 of the Revised Code, the school, board, or governing authority also shall notify the pupil, parent, or guardian of the exemptions from immunization described in that section. The school, board, or governing authority shall provide notice of the exemptions in the same manner as it provides notice of the requirements.”
Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom will be very clear on this issue: We believe that all Ohioans deserve to receive the fundamental right to both informed consent and bodily autonomy.
Take Action Now!
Start preparing your testimony!!! The proponent hearing could happen any week now, so we need to be prepared to show in numbers. Even if you cannot attend in person, you’ll be able to submit your testimony via email to be entered into the record and for the Representative’s review. So please write yours asap.
Write the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee and let them know you want them to support HB132.
Write your legislator and let them know you want them to support HB132. Find you legislator now.
Sign the online letter of support on this page.
Consider making a donation to OAMF so we can continue to do what we do. Donate now.
Continue to check back here and on our social media for further updates!
House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
Representative Louis W. Blessing III, District 29 – 77 S. High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 466-9091 – rep29@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Don Jones, District 95 – 77 S. High St, 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 644-8728 – rep95@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Phillip M. Robinson, Jr., District 6 – 77 S. High St, 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 644-6041 – rep06@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Sara P. Carruthers, District 51 – 77 S. High St, 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 644-6721 – rep51@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Erica C. Crawley, District 26 – 77 S. High St, 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 466-8010 – rep26@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Robert R. Cupp, District 4 – 77 S. High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 466-9624- rep04@ohiohouse.gov
Representative Catherine D. Ingram, District 32 – 77 S. High St, 10th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – Phone (614) 466-1645 – rep32@ohiohouse.gov