House Bill No. by Representative Bayham, titled the "Louisiana Medical Freedom Act," aims to protect individual rights regarding medical decisions, specifically prohibiting the use of vaccination status as a criterion for admission to public buildings and events. The bill establishes definitions for terms such as "business entity," "government entity," and "medical intervention," and outlines that no business or government entity can deny access to services, products, or employment based on an individual's refusal of a medical intervention. It also emphasizes that healthy individuals cannot be excluded from public activities during outbreaks or public health emergencies due to their vaccination status.
The proposed law includes provisions for enforcement, allowing the state's attorney general or local prosecutors to take action against violations, with potential remedies including the awarding of attorney's fees and court costs. Additionally, the bill asserts that any existing requirements for medical interventions must comply with applicable laws regarding exemptions and reasonable accommodations. The legislation also includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any part of the law is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.