logo
House committee takes testimony on bill that would ban certain vaccines in Montana

House committee takes testimony on bill that would ban certain vaccines in Montana

Yahoo11-02-2025

Feb. 11—Legislation that would ban mRNA vaccinations statewide — including the Covid-19 vaccine — drew equal parts support and opposition during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Friday.
House Bill 371, sponsored by Rep. Greg Kmetz, R-Miles City, would prohibit administering gene-based vaccines to a human within the state. Violating the law would result in a $500 fine and a misdemeanor charge, as well as the potential revocation of a license.
Northwest Montana Reps. Tracy Sharp, R-Polson, and Lukas Schubert, R-Kalispell, are cosponsors.
The bill's text states that "gene-based vaccines" are vaccines developed using messenger ribonucleic acid — also known as mRNA — technology, which the legislation considers a danger to humans.
Supporters testifying before the committee agreed with that assessment. Dr. Christine Drivdahl-Smith, a family physician in Miles City and a volunteer board member for the Montana Medical Freedom Alliance, was among the bill's backers.
"[mRNA vaccines are] the most destructive and lethal medical products that have ever been used in medical history," she told the committee.
Drivdahl-Smith and other proponents blamed mRNA vaccines for causing serious injury in humans. She cited the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is a passive reporting system that helps detect adverse symptoms of vaccines, to back up her testimony.
But opponents, who argued mRNA vaccines help the body create a protein from the virus to help build antibodies, argued that the data collected by the system is unreliable evidence. Doctors are required to report any adverse event after a vaccine is given, even if they can't determine that the vaccine itself caused the subsequent issue.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which manages the system alongside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, includes a disclaimer on its website: "A report to VAERS does not mean that the vaccine caused the adverse event, only that the adverse event occurred some time after vaccination."
MANY DOCTORS, nurses, tribal members and pharmacists testified against the bill, stating that the Covid vaccines are safe and saying that mRNA technology opens the doors for more options in the future. They also objected to the government intervening in medical decisions.
"This bill interferes with the health care provider, patient relationships, it interferes with the practice of medicine," said Dr. Douglas Harrington, a preventative medicine physician and the state medical officer for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
There are other vaccines that HB 371 could target beyond Covid-19. An mRNA vaccine could help specifically target disease processes, like with auto immune diseases like lupus.
Ann Langdji, a critic of the legislation, is the director of Montana Families for Vaccines, a nonpartisan network that works to bolster public health in the state.
"Prohibiting mRNA vaccines would limit preventative health care," she said. "... This legislation is not about safety; it's about restricting personal choice."
Dr. Marian Kummer, a retired pediatrician in Billings with almost four decades of experience, echoed Langdji's sentiment.
"It denies the people of Montana the freedom to choose their health care ... I should have the ability to protect myself, I can decide with my doctors," Kummer said.
Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, told the committee that while he wasn't anti-vaccine, he was against rushing vaccines. Drivdahl-Smith responded by deeming the Covid vaccine rushed and that the "incidents of Covid-19 itself went up after the vaccines came out."
Toward the end of the hearing, Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, asked Dr. Lauren Wilson, a practicing pediatrician, whether she agreed with the statements made by the bill's supporters. Wilson serves on the executive committee of Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"I've been keeping a list of things that seem inaccurate, and I've gotten to point 14, I think those things are not accepted in our organization, the views [Drivdahl-Smith] is expressing," Wilson said.
Stephanie Lathrop, a researcher in immunology for over 25 years, stated in her testimony that she was "quite shocked" when she was informed that this legislation had gotten to committee.
"All of these statements that seem to be the basis for this bill are completely and totally incorrect," Lathrop said.
Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Advocates, legislators still trying to expand expired compensation program for radiation exposure
Advocates, legislators still trying to expand expired compensation program for radiation exposure

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Advocates, legislators still trying to expand expired compensation program for radiation exposure

Jun. 10—One year ago, Congress let a federal program end that compensated people who grew sick from mining uranium for nuclear weapons or from living downwind of nuclear weapons tests. In those 12 months, Tina Cordova's cousin died after years of living with a rare brain cancer. Under a proposed expansion of the program, 61-year-old Danny Cordova likely would have qualified for the $100,000 compensation offered to people with specific cancers who lived in specific areas downwind of aboveground nuclear weapons' tests. "Instead, he and his mom lived literally paycheck to paycheck trying to pay for all of the medications he needed," Cordova said. Since the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program was created in 1990, New Mexican downwinders have been left out, as have uranium mine workers from after 1971. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., has led an effort in the Upper Chamber alongside Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to expand the program so it includes later uranium mine workers, and people harmed by aboveground nuclear tests in more states — including New Mexico. In January, they reintroduced a bill to extend and expand RECA. "Letting RECA expire is a disgrace to these families and victims," Luján said. "It's an insult to the victims and their families who still struggle to this very day to get help, get the medicine they need, get the treatments for the conditions caused by the negligence of the federal government. For the victims, this story is long from being over. Generational trauma and poor health conditions continue to plague entire families." Although Hawley and Luján's bill passed the Senate twice in the last session of Congress, and was supported by the entire New Mexico delegation, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., never allowed a vote on the companion House bill, sponsored by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M. The expansion would have included an increased pricetag of $50 billion to $60 billion over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office — a cost estimate Luján has disagreed with. Since its inception, RECA has paid out approximately $2.6 billion. There is no accurate estimate of how many New Mexicans would be included if RECA is expanded, according to Luján's office. "We know we have the votes to get this passed now," said Leger Fernández, who plans to reintroduce the bill in the House. "They keep raising issues with regards to the cost... These are people's lives, and so we need to keep bringing it back to that issue. And in many ways, I think that we are doing this in a bicameral manner, and that the pressure that is being brought from the Senate will help us in the House." 'No apology' Cordova's cousin was diagnosed in his 20s, and had five brain surgeries to address his cancer. "He was left with horrendous and devastating consequences of that (first) surgery," Cordova said. "He lost the eyesight in one eye, he lost the part of his brain that controlled all of his hormonal functions, and he lost the part of his brain that also controlled his ability to adapt his body temperature." Five generations of Cordova's family tree include many cases of cancer. She herself survived thyroid cancer, and as a co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, she's long advocated for expanding RECA. Cordova's kitchen counter is covered in the stories of family trees that mirror her own. For 18 years, she's been collecting health surveys from people who grew up in areas downwind of aboveground nuclear weapon tests, documenting a history of cancer and death for families from Tularosa, Alamogordo and beyond. Loretta Anderson, a patient advocate and co-founder of the Southwest Uranium Miners Coalition Post-71, works with over 1,000 former uranium miners and their families throughout the Laguna and Acoma pueblos. She knows 10 post-1971 uranium miners, those who would be compensated under a RECA expansion, who have died in the past 12 months. "They died with no compensation, no apology from the government," Anderson said. Despite the difficulty in getting RECA extended and expanded, Cordova has faith it will eventually pass through Congress. "This is not a partisan issue," Cordova said. "Exposure to radiation has affected the young, the old, the male, the female, the Black, the white, the Republican and Democrat alike."

Harrisburg restaurants react to Food Allergy Safety Legislation
Harrisburg restaurants react to Food Allergy Safety Legislation

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Harrisburg restaurants react to Food Allergy Safety Legislation

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Right now there is no legislation in Pennsylvania that requires menus to have food allergy disclaimers. A bill to change that already passed the House. Restaurants abc27 spoke with agree the changes it would make are needed. House Bill 77 would also require restaurants to display a poster for their employees and have food allergy safety training. Millworks menu items that contain nuts or gluten are labeled. Front of House Manager Freddy Arundel says more and more customers are coming in with food allergies, which already prompted the restaurant to take precautions. 'The staff is trained to alert the kitchen about the allergies,' Arundel says. 'It's also flagged in our system on every ticket, so everyone who sees what's going on anywhere in the process and it's prepared separately and taken to the guest separately as well. Sauce Boss owner Sheri Tolomeo says gluten would be the main concern at her restaurant and she wouldn't mind updating her menus to disclose that. 'We could educate the people on it and then people can feel more comfortable when they come in ordering things because they know exactly what they're getting,' Tolomeo says. 'We can mix and match and make something that accommodates someone with an allergy.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now More than 33 million Americans have food allergies. That includes over one million in Pennsylvania. Bill sponsors say restaurants and other food retail facilities are the source of nearly half of all food allergy deaths. In a press conference on Tuesday, Kathy Briden spoke about her son Matthew who had a peanut allergy and died at age 28 after an accidental exposure. 'With a practical law in place, individuals and families living with food allergy may be more willing to extend trust when dining out, allowing Pennsylvania restaurants reap the economic benefits,' says Sung Poblete, chief executive officer of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). 'Ultimately, it is on the patron to inform the staff, but when the staff doesn't know what's in the food and just how deadly some of these reactions can be, we think that's the whole premise of House Bill 77,' says Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny and Washington Counties). House Bill 77 passed with bipartisan support in the House. Sen. Judith Schwank said in the Tuesday press conference that she's working on getting the Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee she co-chairs to get it on their agenda. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Legislative recap for Tuesday, June 10
Legislative recap for Tuesday, June 10

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Legislative recap for Tuesday, June 10

Official notices posted in the Maine State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) In an effort to stem the often lengthy debates and occasional partisan fighting that has encroached on valuable voting time, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau warned the chamber Tuesday that if they weren't able to get through enough bills this week, 'the chair will have to consider having a session on Saturday and Sunday.' Weekend work has yet to be determined, but the House did wrap before 8 p.m., comparatively early to recent late nights. One issue that always sparks debate is abortion, and with a slew of bills aiming to roll back the state's current protections, both chambers had their share of discussion late Monday and Tuesday. However, the Democratic majorities in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives ultimately shot down each effort. These include: LD 253, 'An Act to Prevent the MaineCare Program from Covering Abortion Services'; LD 886, 'An Act to Regulate Medication Abortions'; LD 887, 'An Act to Make Manufacturers Responsible for Proper Disposal of Abortion Drugs and Require a Health Care Provider to Be Physically Present During a Chemical Abortion'; LD 1007, 'An Act to Update the State's Informed Consent Laws Regarding Drug-induced Abortion'; LD 1930, 'An Act Regarding Acts of Violence Committed Against a Pregnant Woman'; and LD 1154, 'An Act to Require That Informed Consent for Abortion Include Information on Perinatal Hospice.' The bills were initially rejected by the House late Monday and laid before the Senate on Tuesday. Both chambers Tuesday also rejected legislation (LD 682) that would impose criminal penalties for performing an abortion, ban abortions passed viability unless in an emergency, and require reports on each abortion performed that would include race, marital status, and education level of the patient. (Read more about these and other related proposals here.) With papers frantically shuffling between chambers this week ahead of the planned June 18 adjournment, Maine Morning Star will highlight the biggest items of debate as well as legislation and issues that we've followed all session. Here's an overview of what happened Monday. After passage by the Senate earlier this month, the House voted 75-65 Tuesday night to back LD 1016, one of several proposals to support mobile home park residents in purchasing their parks. (Read more about the bill and the other proposals here. The budget committee also voted in some related funding into the budget on Tuesday.) A provision that would make it so a simple majority of each chamber can extend the Legislature's work beyond the statutory adjournment date appears likely to become law. With a 73-71 vote, the House enacted LD 1668 after both chambers gave their initial approval. Currently, two-thirds support in both chambers is needed. Lawmakers in the House and Senate on Tuesday backed the latest effort (LD 982) to provide the Mi'kmaq Nation the same rights to sales tax revenue on its land that the other three tribes of the Wabanaki Nations were granted in 2022. (Read more about this here). The Senate and House opted to 'indefinitely postpone' legislation (LD 4) that would establish year-round eastern daylight time, effectively killing the measure. A similar bill (LD 3) that requires approval by the federal government and also adopted by other states in the eastern time zone did pass and is headed to the governor's desk. Members of the House voted 78-69 and the Senate 18-14 in favor of legislation (LD 537) that would prohibit the doxing of a minor. Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) said the bill imposes common sense guidelines for the treatment of minors and provides important protections for their privacy and safety. Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford) said she took issue with the provision that allows a minor to be able to consent to having their image shared, 'rather than having a parent involved.' Following the Senate, the House voted Tuesday against a bill that would amend the constitution to require the popular election of the secretary of state, attorney general and state treasurer (LD 455). Both the House and Senate backed legislation (LD 259) to Establish the Criminal Records Review Commission in Statute, with the House voting 78-68 on Tuesday. Proponents said it would help cement and continue the work of the committee, which is tasked with reviewing issues with expunging criminal records and finding ways to prevent past convictions from holding people back from being productive members of their communities. (Read more about this issue here). An emergency bill (LD 1920) to prohibit the sale to a person under 21 years old of potentially intoxicating hemp products passed both chambers without a roll call. Because it is an emergency measure, it needs to secure two-thirds support in both chambers during enactment votes. The House met that threshold Tuesday night, with a unanimous 143-0 enactment vote. Legislation (LD 1571) to modify certification standards for full-time teachers in public charter schools as well as those for reissuance of educational technician certificates passed both chambers, with the Senate voting 18-14 on Tuesday. Both chambers have now backed legislation (LD 1427) directing the Criminal Law Advisory Commission to review and analyze the statutes of limitation pertaining to sex trafficking offenses committed against both adult and minor victims. After initially passing both the House and Senate, a bill (LD 1034) that would decriminalize adult possession of therapeutic psilocybin, found in some mushrooms, failed to garner a majority in either chamber during final enactment votes. Legislation (LD 1620) to regulate the testing of adult-use cannabis and related products was rejected by the House and Senate. LD 613, a bill supported by the Maine Medical Association that allows terminally ill patients to waive the current 17-day waiting period for access to life-ending medication, will go back to the Senate after the House voted to insist on passage of the bill Tuesday after the upper chamber voted Monday against the measure. After LD 1928 squeaked through both chambers last week, the Senate voted 14-20 against enactment on Monday leaving the bill, which would prohibit lodging establishments from using single-use plastic containers — such as mini shampoo bottles — in limbo. The House on Tuesday insisted on its position in favor of the bill. The House Tuesday insisted on its rejection of LD 371, which would remove the 100-megawatt maximum capacity limit for hydropower to qualify as a renewable resource under the state's renewable resource portfolio requirement. The Senate had supported the measure. (More on this issue here.) After initially backing a proposed constitutional amendment (LD 1052) establishing the state auditor as constitutional officer, the majority of the House voted against enactment, putting it in conflict with the Senate, which placed it on the appropriations table. The chambers split over a tax proposal (LD 1879) that would increase corporate tax rates and use that revenue to support the state's agricultural industries. After the House backed the measure 77-67, the Senate voted 13-18 in opposition. Critics argued the proposal would ultimately amount to a 'tax on consumers.' But tax committee chair Sen. Nicole Grohowski (D-Hancock) said farmers are competing with large corporations while operating on thin margins. The bill, she argued, gives the state a way to step up for them without placing the burden on working families. (Read more about the bill here.) The Senate voted 19-15 to pass legislation (LD 1138) that seeks to better align the state's transportation projects and planning under the Maine Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority with the Climate Action Plan. During debate, Sen. Tim Nangle (D-Cumberland) said the state has limited resources to improve transportation and explained that the committee moved this bill forward because it addresses the simultaneous problems of climate change and a lack of transportation choices. Legislation (LD 1666) to expand ranked-choice voting to races for general and special elections for governor, state senator and state representative passed the Senate with a 20-14 vote. Senators voted 18-14 to pass legislation (LD 497) that clarifies the definition and regulation of significant vernal pools under the Natural Resources Protection Act. The House voted without a roll call in favor of a proposal (LD 1555) to create a tax credit for employers that pay for or provide in-kind child care for all employees. (Read more about the bill and other related proposals here.) LD 1099, which would exempt diapers from sales tax, passed without a roll call. The House also passed another tax-related measure (LD 1657), which would expand the use of tax increment revenue for affordable housing by adding authorized project costs, such as costs for the development, sale, and operation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store