Sen. Sampson Slams Passage of H.B. 5044 as an “Anti-Freedom” Expansion of Government Power

Hartford — State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) released the following statement following today’s passage of H.B. 5044: An Act Establishing Connecticut Vaccine Standards:

“On March 11, the Legislative Office Building was filled with residents from across Connecticut standing up for their fundamental rights. Hallways were packed, hearing rooms were overflowing, and people made it clear they do not want government interfering in deeply personal medical decisions.

Today, that message continued as protesters once again showed up at the Capitol.

And yet, despite all of that, this bill has now passed.

That should concern every single resident of this state.

This is, at its core, an anti-freedom bill.

It is another step in a pattern we have seen in Connecticut, where government continues to expand its authority deeper into the lives of families and individuals, even when the public clearly objects.

In 2021, the state removed religious exemption for children. Now, with this expansion of the so-called “standard of care,” we are moving even closer to broader mandates that reach beyond children and into the lives of every Connecticut resident.

This is not a minor or technical change. It is a shift in power.

This law places significant authority in the hands of an unelected official to influence what becomes the accepted standard for medical decisions across this state. Anyone paying attention understands how quickly a “standard” becomes an expectation, and how quickly that expectation becomes a mandate.

Free people should not have to ask permission from the government to make decisions about their own bodies or their children.

That is not extreme. That is the foundation of a free society.

The people who showed up, who waited for hours, who spoke out, and who are still here today made one thing clear. They do not want the government making these decisions for them.
In a legislature dominated by a Democratic supermajority, my responsibility is to oppose policies like this, force debate, and put these concerns on the public record.”