Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping legislative package on Thursday allowing workers to opt out of coronavirus vaccine mandates enforced by private businesses. At a ceremony alongside leaders of the GOP-controlled statehouse and other state officials, DeSantis, a Republican, signed the bills into law.

The conservatives believe the law will be protecting people from burdensome federal vaccination requirements, according to Associated Press inputs.

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“We’re making sure that people have a right to earn a living, people have a right to have protections in their place of employment and that parents have protections to be able to direct the upbringing of their kids,” DeSantis said during the ceremony.

The new law prevents businesses from having vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out for medical reasons, religious beliefs, immunity based on a previous infection, regular testing or an agreement to wear protective gear. 

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Furthermore, the bill also includes fines for businesses that fire a worker without allowing the exemptions. Additionally, it bars schools and governments from having vaccine mandates and allows parents to sue schools with masking requirements. A separate bill blocks the public release of records regarding state investigations of vaccine policies in businesses.

DeSantis also signed a law that prohibits the state health officer from ordering immunizations during a public health emergency. He also signed a law requiring the state to begin exploring the possibility of withdrawing from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which created White House vaccine rules for private companies with more than 100 employees.

Meanwhile, Democrats have criticised the bills as politically motivated and dangerous to public health.

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The implementation of the law caps off a three0day legislative session under DeSantis, who continues to campaign against vaccine mandates pushed by the White House. The governor, who is running for reelection and eyeing a potential 2024 presidential run, has become one of the nation’s most prominent Republicans through his opposition to lockdowns and other virus rules.

With inputs from the Associated Press