Bill > SB1437

This bill eliminates non-medical exemptions for immunization requirements in Hawaii's school system, requiring students to be immunized unless they have a medical exemption certified by a licensed healthcare professional. The legislation is motivated by increasing rates of non-medical exemptions, which rose from 2.5% in 2015-2016 to 5.3% in 2023-2024, and concerns about potential disease outbreaks. The bill maintains medical exemptions for children whose physical condition would be endangered by immunizations and includes a grandfather clause allowing students with existing religious exemptions for the 2024-2025 school year to continue their exemption. The legislature emphasizes the importance of "herd immunity," where high immunization rates protect medically fragile children who cannot be safely immunized, and argues that the state has a compelling interest in protecting public health, particularly for children. The bill amends several sections of Hawaii's Revised Statutes to remove language permitting religious exemptions while ensuring that children with individualized education programs can still access necessary services. The new law will take effect immediately upon approval, aiming to improve immunization coverage and reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in schools.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1437&year=2026