S. 492 · 118th Congress
CONSCIENCE Act of 2023
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 118th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
R
RubioSponsor1 cosponsor · 1 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Conscience Objections to Negligent State COVID-19 Inoculation Edicts Need Constitutional Enforcement Act of 2023 or the CONSCIENCE Act of 2023
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Feb 16, 2023
Conscience Objections to Negligent State COVID-19 Inoculation Edicts Need Constitutional Enforcement Act of 2023 or the CONSCIENCE Act of 2023
This bill generally prohibits state and local governmental COVID-19 vaccine mandates that do not provide religious exemptions.
Specifically, the bill prohibits state and local governments from establishing COVID-19 vaccine mandates that (1) place a substantial burden on the religious exercise of an individual or entity; (2) do not treat a religious exercise or condition the same as a nonreligious exercise or condition; or (3) exclude or unreasonably limit religious exemptions. An individual's refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or an entity's refusal to institute COVID-19 vaccine requirements, on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief is considered to be religious exercise.
The bill establishes a private right of action and authorizes the federal government to bring civil actions for violations.
The bill applies to any mandates adopted before, on, or after the bill's date of enactment.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: CONSCIENCE Act of 2023
Also known as: Conscience Objections to Negligent State COVID–19 Inoculation Edicts Need Constitutional Enforcement Act of 2023
Latest action (Feb 16, 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Feb 16, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.