House committee sends bill to floor to allow donors to disclose mRNA vaccination on blood donations

The House Health and Welfare Committee on an unrecorded date advanced House Bill 131, a measure that would require disclosure and labeling of donated blood when the donor indicates they received an mRNA vaccine, sending the bill to the full House with a “do pass” recommendation after a 9-5 roll call vote.

Sponsor Representative Bruce (R-District 23) said the bill is intended to provide patients a choice to request blood labeled as coming from donors who did or did not report receiving an mRNA vaccine for nonemergency, elective transfusions. “I’m not challenging the fact that they’re testing or not testing … This is only for non emergency situations,” Bruce said during his remarks.

Supporters said the bill answers patient preference concerns. Morgan Lutkin, a District 22 resident, described difficulties obtaining physician-directed donations and said a labeling system “would offer significant positive impact to citizens and support the right to informed consent and personal…