HB702 prohibits employers from inquiring about the vaccination status of their employees. Under this law, it is discriminatory for a person or governmental entity to deny someone of local or state services, health care services, or employment opportunities based on an individual’s vaccination status or if an individual has an immunity passport. However, a healthcare facility may still request an employee to volunteer their vaccination status for the intention of determining accommodation measures to protect the health and safety of their employees and patients, but an individual is still not required to provide that information.
The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB702 on April 28, 2021 by a vote of 64 to 32. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because an individual’s personal health care decisions should not be the object of government, nor be under its federal, state, or local jurisdictions in the United States. Forcing an individual to produce their vaccination status would be a violation of their fundamental rights, freedoms, privileges, or immunities protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.