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New Missouri law limits county health leaders powers, prohibits vaccine passports

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parson signs bill

(WSIL) -- Governor Mike Parson signed HB 271 into law Tuesday, which establishes greater accountability for local leaders when imposing public health orders and prohibits local COVID-19 vaccine passports. 

Under HB 271, public health orders restricting businesses, churches, schools or others places of assembly can only last 30 days, after the Governor has issued a state of emergency. Orders can be extended with a simple majority vote by the local governing body.

If a state of emergency has not been issued by the governor, orders can only last 21 days. Those can be extended with a two-thirds vote by the local governing body.

“This legislation I am signing today requires local leaders to be more transparent in their reasoning and accountable for their decisions when it comes to public health orders,â€Â Governor Parson said.

The bill also prohibits local vaccine passports. Governor Parson said, "While we encourage all Missourians to get vaccinated against COVID-19, it is not the government's job to force them."

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