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HF 279

A bill for an act relating to powers and duties applicable to state of disaster emergencies and public health disasters.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Zach Dieken and 8 co-sponsors

HF 279 limits state disaster/public health powers, protects rights by restricting coercive monitoring and vaccine mandates, and favors voluntary testing with informed consent.

Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
#disasters #emergencymanagement #publichealthdisasters
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Bill Summary · HF 279

Summary of HF 279 (Introduced Feb. 10, 2025)

HF 279 is a bill relating to powers and duties applicable to state and local responses to disaster emergencies and public health disasters, with a focus on delineating the scope of government authority and protecting individual rights during such emergencies. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Judiciary committee.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish constraints and guidance for how state disaster and public health emergencies are handled, particularly around civil liberties, health surveillance, and medical decision-making.
  • Clarify and limit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authority during public health disasters, while allowing non-coercive public health measures and clinician-supported recommendations.

Key provisions and changes

  • State of disaster emergency authorities

    • A proclamation of a state of disaster emergency would include certain restrictions related to constitutional rights, religious rights, patient rights, surveillance, health-related professional licensing and prescribing authority, and disease contraction monitoring.

  • Public health disaster duties (Code chapter 135 – public health)

    • The department’s reasonable measures to prevent transmission and ensure proper identification, control, and treatment of communicable diseases shall not include:
    • Requiring identification and monitoring of a person at risk simply due to contact with a contagious person.
    • Forcing a person to comply with such identification and monitoring efforts.
    • The department may recommend—but not order—physical exams, testing, and the collection of specimens necessary for diagnosis and treatment.
    • An affected individual has the ultimate authority to decide whether to submit to the department’s recommendations and shall not face undue pressure or coercion.

  • Isolation and testing

    • The department may isolate infected individuals who refuse a physical exam or testing and who pose a public health danger.
    • The period of isolation may not exceed the longest usual incubation period for the specific disease.

  • Vaccination

    • The department may recommend an FDA-approved vaccine as safe and effective, but it may not vaccinate or order individuals to be vaccinated to prevent disease spread.
    • Prior to administration, adults or the parent/legal representative of a minor receiving a vaccine must provide consent (the text provided is incomplete, but the intent appears to be informed consent).

Who is affected

  • Individuals potentially subject to public health measures during a state of disaster or public health emergency.
  • Health professionals and licensing/prescribing authorities.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and related public health agencies implementing disaster and public health responses.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to Judiciary.
  • Introduced: February 10, 2025.
  • The bill alters powers and duties under Code chapter 135 (public health) and governs the balance between public health measures and individual rights during emergencies.

Potential impacts

  • Civil liberties and rights protections: The bill emphasizes limiting coercive identification, monitoring, and vaccination mandates, reinforcing personal autonomy in medical decisions during emergencies.
  • Public health tools: Encourages voluntary testing, examinations, and vaccination recommendations rather than compulsory measures.
  • Administrative clarity: Sets expectations for when isolation may be used and for how long, aligned with incubation periods.
  • Operational posture for agencies: Requires HHS to focus on non-coercive strategies and emphasize informed consent in vaccination.

Sponsors

  • Primary sponsors: THOMSON, GEARHART, HOLT, JENEARY, GOLDING, WHEELER, WENGRYN, GRABER, DIEKEN.

Note: Some portions of the text regarding vaccination consent are cut off in the provided version, but the intended direction appears to require informed consent prior to vaccination.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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