BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 407 By: Middleton Health & Human Services 4/7/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT There are concerns that health care facilities in Texas can implement vaccine policies for individuals working in those facilities despite their religious or conscientious objections. Moreover, there are concerns that some health care facilities may deny exemption requests made on the basis of personal or religious beliefs, thus violating their personal beliefs and freedoms afforded by these exemptions. S.B. 407 seeks to reinforce the right of individuals working in health care facilities to claim vaccine exemptions based on reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. Under the proposed legislation, health care facilities will be prohibited from rejecting exemption requests made on these grounds. As proposed, S.B. 407 amends current law relating to vaccine exemptions for individuals covered under a vaccine preventable disease policy implemented by certain health care facilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code, as follows: (c) Requires that the vaccine preventable diseases policy include, rather than authorizes the policy to include, procedures for a covered individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Prohibits a health care facility from rejecting an exemption based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, for any reason. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 407
By: Middleton
Health & Human Services
4/7/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 407
By: Middleton
Health & Human Services
4/7/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
There are concerns that health care facilities in Texas can implement vaccine policies for individuals working in those facilities despite their religious or conscientious objections. Moreover, there are concerns that some health care facilities may deny exemption requests made on the basis of personal or religious beliefs, thus violating their personal beliefs and freedoms afforded by these exemptions. S.B. 407 seeks to reinforce the right of individuals working in health care facilities to claim vaccine exemptions based on reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. Under the proposed legislation, health care facilities will be prohibited from rejecting exemption requests made on these grounds.
As proposed, S.B. 407 amends current law relating to vaccine exemptions for individuals covered under a vaccine preventable disease policy implemented by certain health care facilities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code, as follows:
(c) Requires that the vaccine preventable diseases policy include, rather than authorizes the policy to include, procedures for a covered individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Prohibits a health care facility from rejecting an exemption based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, for any reason.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.