Kansas committee hears hours of testimony on bill creating conscientious exemption from medical interventions

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare Chairman Gossage opened a hearing on Senate Bill 19, which would prohibit employers, health-care entities, schools and others from taking adverse actions based on an individual’s refusal "for reasons of conscience" to accept a vaccination, pharmaceutical, biologic or gene-editing technology and would create a private right of action for alleged violations.

Supporters told the committee they want a statutory conscience exemption that reaches beyond religious denominations. "I support SB 19 because it protects my freedom, my beliefs, and my baby girl," said Jerome Gossage, who testified as a parent. Several proponents urged the committee to allow parents and workers to refuse medical interventions without having to show membership in a faith whose official teachings bar vaccinations.

Opponents, including local public-health leaders, school nurses and pediatricians, warned the bill would weaken tools public health uses to control outbreaks and could lower vaccination coverage. Farah Ahmed of the…