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HB 1457

relative to natural organic reduction of human remains.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Will Darby and 4 co-sponsors

Establishes a North Dakota vaccine exemption: individuals may claim exemption from mandates when no FDA-approved vaccine meets minimum safety/transparency standards.

Inexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
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Bill Summary · HB 1457

Summary — HB 1457 (North Dakota)

A bill to create and enact a new section to chapter 23‑12 of the North Dakota Century Code establishing a statutory exemption to otherwise required vaccines.

Main purpose

HB 1457 would authorize individuals (including parents/guardians on behalf of children or dependents) to claim an exemption from any vaccine requirement (employment, school attendance, licensing, certification, degree requirements, etc.) when no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‑approved vaccine that satisfies specified minimum safety and transparency standards exists for the stated purpose.

Key provisions

  • Exemption eligibility: An individual may claim an exemption from any required vaccine if there is no FDA‑approved vaccine that meets all of the following minimum standards:
    1. The FDA relied on a clinical trial that evaluated vaccine safety for at least one year after administration and compared outcomes to a control group that received either a placebo or another vaccine that itself meets these requirements.
    2. The state Department of Health and Human Services (referred to in the bill as “the department”) posts on its website the injuries or diseases caused by the vaccine and the rate at which those injuries/diseases occur.
    3. The risk of permanent disability or death from the vaccine has been proven to be lower than the risk of permanent disability or death from the infection the vaccine intends to prevent.
    4. The vaccine manufacturer is legally liable for any death or serious injury caused by the vaccine.
  • Public notice: The department must publicize that the exemption exists and must inform the public that an exemption may be claimed by individuals or on behalf of a child/dependent.
  • Administrative limits: No state agency, political subdivision, board, or commission may require an individual to satisfy conditions that are inconsistent with this statutory exemption in order to claim it.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals subject to vaccine mandates (students, employees, applicants for licenses/certifications/degrees) who wish to claim the exemption.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (administrative duties for publicizing the exemption and posting information).
  • Vaccine manufacturers (subject to a statutory liability provision in the bill).
  • State agencies and political subdivisions (prohibited from imposing inconsistent conditions to claim the exemption).

Procedural/timeline status

  • Introduced: November 22, 2024.
  • Legislative status (as provided): Second reading — failed to pass (Yeas 45, Nays 42).

Potential considerations (not legal advice)

  • Implementation would require the department to collect and publish vaccine adverse‑event information and to apply the bill’s evidentiary standards when determining whether an FDA‑approved vaccine “meets” the statutory criteria.
  • The manufacturer‑liability provision could raise legal and policy questions about conflicts with federal statutes and existing liability frameworks; the bill does not specify mechanisms for proving causation or adjudicating claims.
  • The exemption framework, if enacted, could increase the number of individuals exempted from vaccine requirements, with potential public‑health and administrative consequences.

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

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