Bill > HB1118

This bill eliminates non-medical immunization exemptions for school-aged children in Hawaii, while preserving existing medical exemptions and grandfathering in students with previously approved religious exemptions for the 2024-2025 school year. The legislation is motivated by increasing rates of non-medical immunization exemptions, which rose from 2.5% in 2015-2016 to 5.3% in 2023-2024, with some schools experiencing exemption rates over 10%. The bill aims to protect public health, particularly for medically fragile children who depend on "herd immunity" (a protective barrier created when 95% of a community is immunized) and cannot be safely vaccinated themselves. Under the new law, children can only be exempted from immunization requirements if a licensed healthcare professional certifies that vaccinations would endanger the child's life or health. The bill also ensures that students with individualized education programs will continue to access necessary special education services. While eliminating new religious exemptions, the law allows students with existing religious exemptions to maintain their status for the 2024-2025 school year, demonstrating a balanced approach to implementing the new immunization requirements.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1118&year=2026