WeVote
Log In

Bill

TM

Bill

SB 478

Require higher education institutions to pay medical costs associated with mandated COVID–19 vaccinations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Theresa Manzella

Montana bill requiring universities to pay all medical costs for adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccine mandates; died in committee without passage.

(S) Died in Process
#colleges #education-post-secondary #health #liability
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 478

Legislative bill overview

SB 478 would have required Montana higher education institutions to cover all medical costs—including treatment, hospitalization, and long-term care—for students, faculty, and staff who experience adverse health effects from COVID-19 vaccinations mandated by those institutions. The bill applied retroactively to individuals who received mandated vaccinations and prospectively to any future mandates.

Why is this important

This proposal addresses concerns about institutional liability for vaccine-related injuries, potentially establishing precedent for who bears financial responsibility when public health measures result in medical complications. The bill's retroactive scope and broad cost coverage would have significant budgetary implications for Montana's university system and could influence how institutions approach future health mandates.

Potential points of contention

  • Vaccine safety vs. liability concerns: The bill assumes mandated vaccines cause measurable harm requiring institutional compensation, contradicting CDC/WHO safety data showing serious adverse effects are extremely rare, though supporters argue any risk warrants institutional responsibility
  • Budgetary impact and institutional autonomy: Unlimited medical cost liability could substantially strain university budgets and discourage health-related mandates, raising questions about institutional decision-making authority versus state fiscal responsibility
  • Retroactive application: Applying costs to past vaccinations already administered creates unclear timelines and potentially impacts institutions with limited recourse, versus prospective-only approaches that affect future decisions

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

Sign in to ask a question.