Bill > H380

This bill adds a "conscientious objection" exemption to North Carolina's existing vaccination requirements for students in schools, child care facilities, colleges, and universities. The bill modifies several existing statutes to allow individuals (or parents on behalf of children) to be exempt from immunization requirements by submitting a written statement of religious beliefs or reasons of conscience that oppose vaccination. The modifications include updating immunization reporting forms to track the number of students receiving conscientious objection exemptions, expanding the existing religious exemption to include broader conscientious objections, and updating parental rights language to explicitly mention conscientious objection as a valid exemption method. Importantly, the bill specifies that these changes will take effect for public schools and colleges/universities beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, giving institutions time to prepare for the new exemption process. This change provides an additional pathway for students and parents who have personal or philosophical objections to mandatory vaccinations to avoid immunization requirements.

Health and Social Services

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H380