DeSantis Signs Anti-vax Mandates Bills into Law

Firing workers for COVID violations just got a bit more difficult now that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a set of four bills Thursday that put new restrictions on vaccine mandates.

DeSantis signed the legislation into law at an car dealership in Brandon, an unincorporated Hillsborough County community, a decision that likely stemmed from the popular Republican phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” as a stand-in for an expletive directed at President Joe Biden.

“We’re making sure that people have a right to earn a living,” DeSantis said. “We are respecting people’s individual freedom in this state.”

Many see the legislation as a political win for DeSantis, but the laws fell short of what more hardline lawmakers were pushing for.

Democrats lambasted the special session DeSantis called by DeSantis, dubbing it “political theater” structured to support DeSantis’ reelection prepare him for a run for the presidency in 2024.

The main bill, HB 1B, restricts vaccination mandates by muicipal governments on staff. For private businesses, mandates must consider exemptions for religious or medical reasons. Any individual who previously contracted COVID-19 will also be given a pass, as well as anyone submitting to regular testing for COVID-19.

Conservative firebrand and district 7 candidate Anthony Sabatini said the bill doesn’t go far enough because it still allows vaccine mandates.

Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, on Wednesday, called for Florida to “nullify” Biden’s executive order imposing a vaccine requirement on businesses with more than 100 workers.

Businesses exceeding 100 employees may be met with fines of up to $50,000 per violation while businesses with fewer than 100 will face a lower amount of $10,000.