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Bill

SR 127

Urges State citizens to stay up-to-date on vaccinations.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gordon Johnson and 3 co-sponsors

Urges New Jersey residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations and directs health officials to boost public awareness about measles and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
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Bill Summary · SR 127

Summary — Senate Resolution No. 127 (SR 127)

Status: Reported out of Senate Committee; 2nd Reading
Introduced: February 19, 2025
Classification: Resolution (non‑binding)
Subject: Health — vaccination awareness

Main purpose

SR 127 urges residents of the State of New Jersey to stay up‑to‑date on recommended vaccinations and asks the State Department of Health to increase public awareness about measles and other vaccine‑preventable diseases. The resolution is advisory and does not create new requirements, funding, or penalties.

Key provisions

  • Urges citizens to become vaccinated to protect communities from vaccine‑preventable diseases.
  • Urges the Department of Health to take measures to increase awareness of the measles outbreak and the importance of vaccination, including developing and disseminating a mailer containing vaccination information and resources on where residents can be vaccinated.
  • Directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies of the filed resolution to the Governor, each member of the New Jersey Legislature, and the Commissioner of Health.
  • Resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption.

Data and rationale cited in the resolution

  • Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has reemerged.
  • 285 reported U.S. measles cases in 2024.
  • 222 reported U.S. measles cases from January 1–March 6, 2025 (per the resolution).
  • 94% of 2025 cases were among persons unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.
  • 2024 CDC finding: 93% of U.S. kindergarteners had received measles vaccine — 2 percentage points below the 95% threshold typically cited for herd (community) immunity.
  • New Jersey trends cited: kindergarten vaccination compliance declined 3.6% and first‑grade compliance declined 7.5% between the 2013–2014 and 2023–2024 school years.

Who is affected

  • Residents of New Jersey (general public): encouraged to vaccinate.
  • New Jersey Department of Health: urged to conduct outreach and provide informational materials.
  • State officials: recipients of the resolution copies; no regulatory or financial obligations are imposed.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 19, 2025; referred to relevant committee(s) in March 2025.
  • Public hearing(s) and committee action occurred in March 2025; reported favorably by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (report dated May 19, 2025).
  • Listed as Reported out of Committee and on 2nd Reading. (Resolution is non‑binding and is primarily an expression of the Senate’s position.)
  • Companion measure: SCR 157.

Impact and limitations

  • Intended impact: raise public awareness and encourage vaccination to reduce outbreaks.
  • Limitations: as a resolution, SR 127 does not allocate funds, impose mandates, or change law; its effect depends on any follow‑up actions by the Department of Health or other authorities.

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

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