TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Critics of workplace vaccine mandates packed the Florida Capitol courtyard Wednesday to demand that Tallahassee's majority Republicans to ban them outright during a special legislative session later this month.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling on lawmakers to block employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccines

  • A special legislative session he has called is set to take place the week of Nov. 15

  • Thus far, the Republican majority in the Legislature has stopped short of banning mandates outright

The session has been called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is asking the legislature to implement a series of measures aimed at blocking employers from requiring workers to present proof of vaccination or submit to regular testing.

The state of Florida has already filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, challenging the constitutionality of upcoming federal contractor COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

But top lawmakers have so far stopped short of considering banning workplace vaccine mandates. At Wednesday's "World Wide Walkout" rally, Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-Howey in the Hills) accused his party's leaders of bowing to the wishes of the state's politically influential business lobby.

"The problem we've got right now is a deficit of courage amongst our elected officials in the Republican Party," Sabatini shouted to cheers from the crowd.

He said he would file special session legislation to ban all vaccine and mask mandates.

"I think it's disgusting that Disney can say, 'Hey, did you get the COVID vaccine? What shot are you on? How many boosters do you have? OK, if not, you're fired.' They shouldn't even be allowed to inquire," Sabatini told reporters after the rally. "So, it's up to us to secure those rights through state statutes, and these Republicans, they're bought off or asleep at the wheel and, really, we've got to toss them out of the party if they don't wake up on this issue."

This week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to unveil a rule requiring large companies to mandate that employees be vaccinated or undergo regular testing. Discussions are underway in Tallahassee regarding the possibility of making an attempt to withdraw Florida from OSHA's federally mandated workplace safety standards.

The special legislative session is set to take place the week of Nov. 15.