CONSCIENCE Act of 2023

The CONSCIENCE Act of 2023 would require governments to provide religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine mandates and prohibit policies that treat religious objections less favorably than non-religious ones. It would allow individuals to challenge vaccine mandates that impose significant burdens on religious exercise, requiring governments to prove they have a strong reason for the requirement and that they're using the least restrictive approach possible. The bill applies to all government entities and private entities operating under government contracts that implement vaccine requirements. It directly affects people with religious objections to the vaccine, government agencies, and private employers who require vaccines for employment.