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UPDATE: 5/20/2022 - HB 1035 signed by the governor and enacted as Chapter 55, effective 7/19/2022.
UPDATE: 4/21/2022 - HB 1035 passed the Senate.
UPDATE: 4/14/2022 - HB 1035 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in a 5-0 vote.
UPDATE: 3/29/2022 - HB 1035 is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, April 6th at 11:40 AM in State House Room 100. Agenda - https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/schedule/eventDetails.aspx?event=7266&et=1
UPDATE: 3/17/2022 - HB 1035 referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
UPDATE: 3/15/2022 - HB 1035 passed the House.
UPDATE: 3/10/2022 - HB 1035 passed the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee with an amendment.
The amendment reduces the bill to a simple removal of the requirement that a parent's request for a religious vaccine exemption for their child be notarized. It no longer adds a conscientious objector exemption for school-required vaccines so the bill title had to be completely changed. This is disappointing, especially since there are many valid reasons why a parent may want to delay or decline vaccination that do not derive from a religious belief, however, the bill even in this reduced form, still deserves supporting because one should not have to get the government to certify (through notarization) your religious beliefs and this is still an improvement over current law. It should be noted that NVIC Advocacy does not support vaccine mandates, but is still supporting this bill because it makes the current exemption process for mandates less entangled and hindered by the government.
NVIC Advocacy changed the title of this bill from "Adds conscientious objector exemption for vaccines required for school" to "Removes notarization requirement for religious vaccine exemption request" to reflect these changes.
UPDATE: 3/2/2022 - HB 1035 is scheduled for executive session in the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee on Monday, March 7th at 9:30 AM in Legislative Office Building Room 210-211. Agenda - https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/schedule/eventDetails.aspx?event=7109&et=11
UPDATE: 1/24/2022 - HB 1035 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee on Monday, Feb. 7th at 2:15 PM in Legislative Office Building Room 210-211.
HB 1035 was prefiled on 11/2/2021 to be introduced on 1/5/2022 and referred to the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee. This bill is sponsored by Representative Lang.
HB 1035 repeals Current NH law, 141-C:20-c, that only allows for exemptions for medical and religious beliefs for vaccines required for school and replaces it with the following new section that adds exemptions for conscientious objectors:
"A child shall be exempt from immunization if the child's parent or legal guardian submits a written request for a medical, religious, or conscientious objector exemption. The written request shall simply state: 'I {Parent’s name}, here by submit this request for a medical, religious, or conscientious objector exemption from the mandated vaccinations required per RSA:141-C:20-a for my child, {Child's name}. {Parent/Guardian signature required}'. Upon receipt of the written request, the exemption shall be granted."
https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=2182&sy=2022&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2022&txtbillnumber=hb1035 - text, status, and history of HB 1035.
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