Ohio2026Passed Legislature

HB112

Conscientious Right to Refuse Act

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:32 AM

In one sentence

This law prohibits businesses, employers, and government agencies from discriminating against individuals who refuse certain medical interventions or facial coverings for reasons of conscience.

Creates a new state rule that bans discrimination against individuals who refuse specific medical interventions based on their beliefs.
Lists protected refusals including vaccines, drugs, gene editing technology, and facial coverings like masks.
Prohibits employers from firing workers or denying them jobs because they refused these items for religious or conscience reasons.
Allows people to sue in court if a business or agency treats them unfairly after they refuse the listed medical interventions.
Requires courts to award winning plaintiffs their legal fees and three times their actual damages, with a minimum of $200.

Individuals who are at least eighteen years old or emancipated minors
Businesses, employers, health care providers, hospitals, nursing homes, private colleges, and state institutions of higher education
State agencies, political subdivisions like counties, public officials, residential care facilities, and health plan issuers

The law does not allow parents to deny medical care, such as organ transplants, to their children just because they refuse vaccines.
Surgical masks worn during surgery are not considered facial coverings under this protection.
Businesses that provide public services cannot be sued for disease outbreaks believed to be prevented by vaccines.

Plain language

Conscience: Reasons for refusal that include religious convictions.
Emancipated minor: A young person under 18 who is legally treated as an adult because they are independent from their parents or guardians, allowing them to be covered by this law.
Injunctive relief: A court order that requires a party to stop doing something harmful or to take specific action.

Official record

Source attached

Enact the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act

Official activity