Vaccines save countless lives every day, and give every child the chance to grow up healthy. Unfortunately, a tremendous amount of misinformation is leading a growing number of parents to not vaccinate. This has caused a re-emergence of vaccine-preventable disease across the country. Several state legislatures have introduced bills to strengthen immunization rates. We need your action at the state level now – see how you can help by reviewing our current list of pending legislation.

ACTIVE STATE LEGISLATION

COLORADO

HB 1164 Bill to require parents to submit exemption forms to Department of Health instead of to schools. Bill has been amended to require records to be confidential.

MASSACHUSETTS 

SB 317 Bill to add a personal belief exemption.
Hearing will be held in the Committee on Education on 6/3/2015. 

MICHIGAN 

HB 5126 Bill to prohibit the local health authority from excluding an unvaccinated/exempted child from school or childcare during an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease.

HB 5361 Bill to modify exemptions to immunization requirements to require the use of forms created by the department of health

HB 5363 Bill related to the collection of information regarding immunization status at additional grade levels; would require notification to parents of immunization and waiver rates.

NEW JERSEY

S801 Bill to strengthen current religious exemptions by requiring the parent/guardian to include a written explanation of “how the administration of the vaccine conflicts with the bona fide religious tenets or practices of the student.” States that a general philosophical or moral objection is not sufficient.

A169 Bill to permits exemption from mandatory immunization for students in writing for any reason

A2727 Bill to provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations

NEW YORK

S378a Would expand determination of medical exemption from Medical Doctors to also include NPs and Physician Assistants

A 8329/S 6017 Bill to eliminate religious exemption

A 7016a Bill to require parents seeking religious exemption to obtain an affidavit, signed by a physician attesting to the provision & discussion of information on risks to the child and others for failing to be vaccinated

S 4733 Would require parents seeking religious exemption to obtain an affidavit, signed by a physician attesting to the provision & discussion of information on risks to the child & others for failing to be vaccinated

NORTH CAROLINA

S 346 Bill to require all children to be screened for severe combined before vaccination; would repeal the existing religious exemption

PENNSYLVANIA

HB 883 Would require a health care provider to sign an affidavit that the parent or guardian seeking a religious exemption has received information on risks and benefits of vaccines

VERMONT

H.212 Bill to remove the philosophical & religious exemption

WASHINGTON

HB 2009 Bill to remove the exemption for “philosophical or personal objection; retains the exemptions for medical or religious reasons

WISCONSIN

AB924 Bill to eliminate the personal conviction exemption