TAKE ACTIONOppose Changes to Immunization Requirements

About the Bills

HB 1449 - School Vaccine Clinic Restrictions 

This bill bans vaccine clinics from operating at schools during school hours and requires a parent or guardian to be physically present with their child for the child to receive any vaccine at a school clinic. This creates significant barriers for working families and could reduce vaccination rates by making it harder for many parents to access convenient, no-cost vaccine clinics. School-based clinics, run through the New Hampshire Public Health Association in eight different public health regions, have been a critical tool for reaching underserved communities and ensuring all children—not just those whose parents can take time off work—have access to protections against disease. 

HB 1584 - Mandatory Exemption Notices 

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to prominently display "MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW" on all vaccine-related communications and materials. This bill also creates penalties of up to $1,000 for state employees who don't include the required notice. HB 1584 undermines public health messaging at a time when New Hampshire already faces rising exemption rates—from 2.7% in 2020-2021 to 4.1% in 2024-2025. 

HB 1616 - Ban on Vaccine Advertising 

This bill prohibits state agencies and local governments from advertising vaccines or spending any money on vaccine advertising. According to the fiscal note, this bill would eliminate approximately $61,000 in federal funding currently used for medical provider education about vaccines. This silences the state's ability to communicate with families about vaccine-preventable diseases during outbreaks or to provide educational resources to health care providers. This bill could also jeopardize up to $3.5 million in federal immunization funding if the state cannot meet federal requirements for public education and communication. 

HB 1719 - Remove Hepatitis B Requirement 

This bill removes Hepatitis B from the list of vaccines required for children to attend school or child care. The vaccine would still be available, but parents could choose whether or not their child receives it. This "death by a thousand cuts" approach chips away at our immunization program one vaccine at a time, setting a dangerous precedent that invites future bills to remove additional vaccines. An increase in Hepatitis B outbreaks requiring emergency response could cost the state $100,000-$350,000 per outbreak. 

HB 1811 - Eliminate All Vaccine Requirements 

This bill completely repeals all childhood immunization requirements for school and child care attendance in New Hampshire. Under this bill, vaccines would become entirely optional recommendations that cannot be required by the state or any local government for any public service or access. This represents the complete dismantling of New Hampshire's successful immunization program. This bill would reverse decades of public health progress and put New Hampshire children at risk of diseases we haven't seen in generations. 

Bill Status

All five bills will start in the House of Representatives.