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UPDATE: 4/15/2022 - AB 299 vetoed by the governor. The governor stated in his veto letter that his reasons for vetoing AB 299 were because of his objections to the "Legislature's continued efforts to inject partisan politics and rhetoric into public health practices by preventing public entities and businesses from making decisions that work for them, their customers, their workers, and their operations to help prevent and suppress the spread of COVID-19."
He went on to state that pandemic response should be focused on "following the science and the advice of public health experts and working to save as many lives as we can - not on finding ways to make it harder to fight this virus or keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe." He also stated that private entities and businesses should be able to implement their own COVID-19 "mitigation measures."
There are legitimate concerns about the "mitigation measures" and "decisions" that entities have made regarding COVID-19, which have resulted in restrictive vaccine mandates or vaccine passport requirements. While common-sense safety measures, such as not coming into work when sick, are appropriate to implement, heavy-handed vaccine mandates are not. COVID-19 vaccines come with significant risks, such as heart inflammation (myocarditis) that can be greater for some people. As of Oct 28, 2022, there had been 1,446,626 adverse events reported following COVID vaccinations recorded in VAERS, including 31,771 deaths. Individuals who have received COVID vaccines can still spread and catch it.
AB 299 would have protected many Wisconsin residents, who were at high risk for having a COVID vaccine reaction or had determined they didn’t want or need a COVID-19 vaccine, from being denied the right to be employed, or access state government services, or otherwise participate in society.
UPDATE: 4/14/2022 - AB 299 reported correctly enrolled in the Assembly on 2/25/2022 and was delivered to the governor on 4/13/2022. The final, enrolled version would enact the following:
252.045 Required proof of vaccination prohibited.
(1) Except as provided in s. 252.04, neither the state nor any governmental entity may require any person to provide proof that the person has received a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as a condition of receiving any services, transacting any business, accessing any building, or participating in any government function.
(2) No person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, including a nonprofit organization, engaged in any enterprise in this state may require any person to provide proof that the person has received a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as a condition of receiving any services, transacting any business, accessing any building, or participating in any nonprivate function.
UPDATE: 2/16/2022 - SB 383 Report passage without recommendation, pursuant to Senate Rule 27 (4)(a), by Committee on Health, Ayes 2, Noes 2
UPDATE: 2/15/2022 - Assembly approved AB 299 as amended in the Senate on 2/15/2022
UPDATE: 2/12/2022 AB 299 has been placed on the Senate 2/15/2022 calendar. SB 383 is eligible for scheduling.
UPDATE: 2/9/2022 - AB 299/SB 383 are scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Health on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 12:00 PM at 8 South. Agenda - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/cid/1660302
The committee members have until 10:00 AM on 2/11/2022 to submit their votes.
UPDATE: 1/11/2022 - AB 299/SB 383 are scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 9:30 AM at 201 South East. Agenda - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/cid/1652840
UPDATE: 12/13/2021 - SB 299 did not move in the Senate in 2021, however bills can carry over from odd to even years in WI.
UPDATE: 6/22/2021 - AB 299 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health on 6/21/2021.
UPDATE: 6/18/2021 - AB 299 passed committee and was placed on the Assembly Calendar for 6/16/2021. The bill passed the full Assembly by a vote of 60 yes and 37 no. The bill is now in the Senate.
UPDATE: 6/8/2021 - AB 299 is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 9:00 AM in the North Hearing Room (2nd Floor North) - agenda - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/cid/1621219
UPDATE: 5/27/2021 - AB 299 is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM in Room 417 North (GAR Hall). https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/cid/1619090 - agenda
SB 383 was introduced and referred to the Senate Health Committee on 5/25/2021. This bill is sponsored by Senators FELZKOWSKI, NASS, JACQUE, BERNIER, STROEBEL and ROTH, cosponsored by Representatives AUGUST, PRONSCHINSKE, MOSES, SORTWELL, VORPAGEL, MACCO, PLUMER, ROZAR, MURPHY, WITTKE, TUSLER, WICHGERS, CALLAHAN, DALLMAN, HORLACHER, ARMSTRONG, VANDERMEER, CABRAL-GUEVARA, SPIROS, SCHRAA, BRANDTJEN, KURTZ, SWEARINGEN, LOUDENBECK, RAMTHUN, KUGLITSCH, BORN, VOS and THIESFELDT.
AB 299 was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics on 5/3/2021. This bill is sponsored by Representatives August, Pronschinske, Moses, Sortwell, Vorpagel, Macco, Plumer, Rozar, Murphy, Wittke, Tusler, Wichgers, Callahan, Dallman, Horlacher, Armstrong, VanderMeer, Cabral-Guevara, Spiros, Schraa, Brandtjen, Kurtz, Swearingen, Loudenbeck, Ramthun, Kuglitsch, Born, Vos and Thiesfeldt;
cosponsored by Senators Felzkowski, Nass, Jacque, Bernier, Stroebel and Roth.
These bills would prohibit the state, any governmental entity, and any business or legal entity engaged in any enterprise in the state from requiring any person to provide proof that the person has received a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, as a condition of receiving any services, transacting any business, accessing any building, or participating in any function.
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2021/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab299- text, status and history for AB 299
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2021/proposals/sb342 - text, status and history for SB 342
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