NEWS: Florida House Passes Bill on Vaccine Passport Requirements

With all Americans 16 and older now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, many legislators are turning their attention to how vaccine passports may play a role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

©Jeff Vahle

Many versions of vaccine passports are currently in development with the purpose of enabling private businesses and local governments to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. However, shortly after it was announced that President Biden was working to identify a platform to house these vaccine passports, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning the use of them in the state. And, that order may become permanent soon.

According to Fox 35 Orlando, the Florida bill that would place limitations on local emergency orders and make the executive order outlawing vaccine passports permanent in the state has been passed by the Florida House.

Orlando Airport

The Senate had previously passed the bill, but the House made some changes that now need to go back for approval. If this version of the bill is signed into law, businesses, schools, and Florida government entities would not be allowed to ask customers for documentation showing that they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the Coronavirus.

Health and Safety Precautions in EPCOT’s UK Pavilion

In addition to outlawing vaccine passports, the bill will limit how local governments can extend emergency orders, allowing them to extend in seven-day increments for a total of 42 days. And, the governor would be able to override local orders that are “unnecessarily restrict individual rights or liberties.”

Health and safety signage in Disney Springs

These changes to the emergency orders are significant, as the seven-day extensions are currently allowed indefinitely. And, the bill would make permanent the order that does not allow theme parks, like Walt Disney World, to require that guests show any form of vaccine passport.