House Republicans are calling for a special session to address federal vaccine mandates. This comes on the heels of a decision in Louisiana federal court to suspend the federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers. Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor joined that lawsuit which is still pending.
“President Biden’s unconstitutional vaccine mandates are already under court injunctions secured by House Bill 1236 legal challenges,” said House Speaker Charles McCall. “The injunctions are positive developments, but they are not permanent protections for Oklahomans being forced to choose between their freedom or their jobs. Just as House Republicans led to enact House Bill 1236, we stand ready at any time to fight overreaching federal vaccine mandates via legislation in a special session. House Republicans support securing freedom for Oklahomans immediately.
O’Connor is currently challenging the military COVID vaccine mandate in Oklahoma City Federal Court.
Another case, this time focused on private employers of 100 or more, also has a temporary injunction while it is being sorted out in federal court.
For a special session to happen, either the governor must call for it or two-thirds of the Legislature must sign a petition for it.
The regular session begins in February.
