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HB 1022 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Religious vaccine exemption form wording

AI-generated

relative to religious exemption from immunization requirements.

Specifies the exact wording of the attestation form parents or guardians must sign to claim a religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill specifies the form for religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The parent or legal guardian shall sign a form stating that the child has not been immunized because of religious beliefs.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt DrewRPrime
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy

Also: Rep. Lori KorzenR, Rep. Yury PolozovR

Public testimony

773 signed in online · 172 wrote testimony

17% support83% oppose0% neutral

ForMedical decisions should belong to individuals, not government

AgainstBroader exemptions undermine herd immunity, endanger vulnerable

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I lost my job as an EMT because my religious exemption was denied. This directly affects my ability to pursue the natural born right to pursue life, liberty and happiness.”
— Mary McGregor, Bowsupports
“A persons religious or spiritual views should allow them to choose to not get a n Medicine or medical device”
— Leslie Tetrault, Sugar Hillsupports
“Support this attempt to solve the religious exemption form issue. Thank you! -Mrs. Martha Jaquith Kingston NH”
— Martha Jaquith, Kingstonsupports
“As a pediatrician I strongly oppose this bill. It will make our children and our communities less healthy and at risk for unnecessary infections. There are NO religions that are against immunizations.…”
— Shelly Heit, Exeteropposes
“I am a nurse of many years, work in community health, public health, school health and infectious disease.These anti-vaccine bills are dangerous, which can lead to vaccine prevent preventable disease outbreaks, and in some cases can be fatal. Vaccines are safe and effective.…”
— Joline Manseau, Hollisopposes
“As a pediatrician with decades of experience, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of almost every vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccines are the safest, most cost-effective way we have of protecting not just individuals but the health of the entire population.…”
— Gwendolyn Gladstone, Exeteropposes
“As long as immunization record keeping remains in place as a gateway for future opportunities for a child.”
— Derek Avila, Nashuaneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0814h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0814hAdopted319–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0814hAdopted179–150How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    179–199% yea
    Democrats
    0–1490% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs4:19:42–4:38:0318m 21slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs5:32:39–5:38:355m 56slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0814h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor7:58:08–8:05:016m 53slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0814h — adopted, roll call 179-150; Amendment # 2026-0814h — adopted, division 319-0
  • Apr 16, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services2:26–17:5315m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 3
  2. Feb 4, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0814h 02/18/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 48
  5. Feb 25, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0814h: AA DV 319-0 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 179
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0814h: MA RC 179-150 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 181
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  9. Apr 16, 2026SenHearing: 04/16/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 14
  10. May 14, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/14/2026; SC 18
  11. May 14, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/14/2026; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.