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HB 1156

Children - As introduced, deletes the responsibility of a parent or legal guardian to ensure that such person's child receives vaccines as recommended by guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Academy of Pediatrics. - Amends TCA Title 37.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Susan Lynn

Tennessee bill removes parental legal duty to vaccinate children per CDC/AAP guidelines, shifting medical decision-making from state-mandated to discretionary.

Def. to Summer Study in Population Health Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 1156

Legislative bill overview

HB 1156 would remove the legal requirement for parents or guardians in Tennessee to ensure their children receive vaccines recommended by the CDC or American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 37, which governs family law and parental responsibilities.

Why is this important

Vaccination requirements affect public health outcomes, disease prevention, and school enrollment policies. This change would shift responsibility away from parents as a matter of law, potentially impacting immunization rates and herd immunity thresholds needed to prevent disease outbreaks in communities and schools.

Potential points of contention

  • Public health impact: Medical and public health organizations argue that high vaccination rates prevent disease spread; opponents counter that individual medical choice should supersede collective health mandates
  • Parental rights vs. child welfare: Supporters frame this as parental autonomy; critics argue the state has an interest in protecting children's health and preventing preventable diseases
  • School and institutional policies: Unclear how this interacts with existing school immunization requirements, potentially creating conflicts between state law and enrollment policies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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