Prohibits state employees from being required to receive COVID-19 vaccination for employment, except hospital, long-term care & Medicare facilities

State: MO
Bill Number: HB 2090
Position: WATCH
Action Required: None
Status: Died, vetoed by Governor on 7/1/2022

Legislation Details:

UPDATE: 7/1/2022 - HB 2090 was vetoed by Governor Michael L. Parson on July 1, 2022. His veto letter includes his reasons for opposing Section 2, saying, “Also of concern, Section 2 puts vulnerable Missourians at risk. This section risks critical federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid services in Missouri by potentially violating Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' federal regulations. I have consistently opposed COVID-19 vaccination mandates, especially for state employees. Jeopardizing the State's Medicare and Medicaid services in this manner is unnecessary and could result in significant negative harm to Missourians.”

The bill did not apply to facilities certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. HB 2090, as filed, was a bill that only addressed a change to state employee pay periods. The bill was amended in the Senate and passed as a senate committee substitute that included a new section that prohibited requiring any state employee to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of commencing or continuing employment, with exceptions. Section 2 stated that “no state employee shall be required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of commencing or continuing employment with an exception that the section does not apply to any state employee who is employed by any facility that meets the definition of hospital in section 197.020, any long-term care facility licensed under chapter 198, any entity that meets the definition of facility in section 199.170, or any facility certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “

This bill would have helped some employees facing oppressive COVID vaccine mandates.

UPDATE: 5/18/2022 - HB 2090 delivered to Governor.

HB 2090 is a bill that as introduced only addressed a change to state employee pay periods.  The bill was amended in the Senate and passed as a senate committee substitute that included the following new section on Page 16 that prohibits requiring any state employee to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of commencing or continuing employment with exceptions. 

Section 2. No state employee shall be required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of commencing or continuing employment. This section shall not apply to any state employee who is employed by any facility that meets the definition of hospital in section 197.020, any long-term care facility licensed under chapter 198, any entity that meets the definition of facility in section 199.170, or any facility certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  Text of substitute - https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/4855S.02T.pdf

NVIC Advocacy supports prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates for state employees, however the prohibition should apply to all employees. 

https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB2090&year=2022&code=R&style=new- text, status and history for HB 2090