- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
SB 1377 modifies California's immunization requirements and medical exemption standards for school attendance, affecting how physicians can authorize exemptions from vaccination mandates.
Law Today
California law currently requires children to be immunized against specified diseases before school admission. Since 2021, the state has required medical exemptions to be issued on a standardized form vetted by the State Department of Public Health, which can be revoked if found inappropriate, and physicians issuing multiple exemptions in a year are reported to medical boards.
If Passed
This bill would eliminate the state's ability to review, revoke, or invalidate medical exemptions issued by licensed physicians, except through a court order proving fraud. It would prohibit the state from disciplining or referring physicians to medical boards based solely on the number of exemptions they issue, and would forbid health insurers and health facilities from penalizing families or denying care based on holding a medical exemption.
AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.
Should I support this?
- Strongly Oppose
- Likely Oppose
- Neutral
- This billLikely Support
- Strongly Support
Likely Support
For Christian parents who value parental authority in medical decisions and religious freedom, this bill strengthens parental rights by preventing state invalidation of physician-issued medical exemptions and protecting families from insurance or medical-care penalties for holding an exemption. It shifts decision-making authority back to parents and their doctors rather than state review boards.
AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.
Likely supporters & opponents
Likely support
- Medical freedom and parental rights advocacy organizations — Parents and physicians should have the authority to make medical decisions without government oversight or second-guessing of doctor-issued exemptions.
- Religious liberty organizations — This protects families whose beliefs lead them to seek medical exemptions from immunization mandates without state interference.
Likely opposition
- Public health agencies and medical associations — Removing oversight of medical exemptions creates risk of fraudulent or medically unfounded exemptions that could undermine herd immunity and disease prevention.
- Education policy advocates — Broad medical exemptions without verification could increase disease risk in schools, particularly affecting immunocompromised children who cannot be vaccinated.
AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.
Official summary
An act to add Article 16 (commencing with Section 2380) to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to amend Sections 120325 and 120375 of, to add Sections 1272.5 and 1374.199 to, to repeal Section 120372.05 of, and to repeal and add Sections 120370 and 120372 of, the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10127.22 to the Insurance Code, relating to immunizations.
Sponsors
- Brian Jones (R)
Status timeline
- 2026-04-16April 15 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 3. Noes 4. Page 3902.)S
- 2026-04-09Set for hearing April 15.S
- 2026-04-08Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and B. P. & E.D.S
- 2026-03-25From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.S
- 2026-03-04Referred to Com. on RLS.S
- 2026-02-23Read first time.S
- 2026-02-23From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.S
- 2026-02-20Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.S
H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly