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Sponsors seek ban on intentional release of self‑spreading viruses; agriculture and veterinary groups warn of broad consequences
Summary
House Bill 14‑58 would make it a crime to intentionally release a "self‑spreading" virus or bacteria without consent, sponsor Representative Donna Henderson told the House Human Services Committee; backers called it a preemptive public‑safety measure, while veterinarians, state animal‑health officials and livestock groups warned the bill’s language could unintentionally restrict routine modified‑live and recombinant vaccines and hinder animal disease control.
Representative Donna Henderson told the committee she introduced House Bill 14‑58 to prohibit intentional release of "self‑spreading" viruses and bacteria without consent, saying the measure targets a new class of engineered RNA agents that could spread from person to person without consent.
Henderson said she asked legislative counsel to add the word "intentional" to the statute’s definition of "release" and to add an exception so the section would not apply to individuals unknowingly infected. "My intent with this bill is to not stop any of the normal vaccines that are being used today," Henderson said, adding the bill aims to preemptively protect citizens from engineered self‑spreading agents.
Several supporters described the technology in stark terms. Charlene Nelson, a private citizen, invoked gain‑of‑function research and called the technology "dangerous," urging a "do pass" recommendation.
Opposition testimony came from multiple…
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