HB 1242: Medical Freedom Act; enact

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 12 of Title 31), the Department of Public Health and county boards of health have authority to require people to be vaccinated against contagious or infectious diseases and to take other steps to stop disease spread, with an exception for religious objectors outside an epidemic. House Bill 1242, called the Medical Freedom Act, would delete that authority entirely. In its place, the bill would bar any state or local government entity from requiring a vaccine or proof of having recovered from an infection as a condition of things like government services, employment, professional licenses, school enrollment, transportation access, child care or healthcare facility access, or entry to businesses. Governments could not issue vaccine or immunization passports or similar health status documents, and could not require people to wear masks or face coverings to limit disease spread. Businesses operating in Georgia also could not require customers to show vaccination or recovery proof, or wear masks, to get service.

• Repeals the current authority of the Department of Public Health and county boards of health to require vaccination against contagious or infectious diseases (O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3).
• Bars state and local governments from requiring proof of vaccination or postinfection recovery for access to government services, jobs, licenses, schools, transportation, healthcare facilities, or businesses.
• Prohibits state and local governments from issuing vaccine or immunization passports or similar documents that certify a person's health or immunization status.
• Bans government mandates that people wear face masks or other facial coverings to limit the spread of contagious or infectious disease.
• Prohibits any business operating in Georgia from requiring customers to show vaccination or recovery documentation or wear a mask as a condition of entry or service.

The Department of Public Health and county boards of health, which lose current vaccination-mandate authority; state and local government agencies and officials; schools, child care and healthcare facilities, and long-term care and nursing homes; and any business or entity operating in Georgia that serves customers or patrons.

If enacted, Georgia public health officials would no longer be able to order vaccination requirements during disease outbreaks, and governments and businesses could not require proof of vaccination, recovery, or mask-wearing to access services, jobs, schools, or stores, changing how the state could respond to future disease threats.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Medical Freedom Act.'
• Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3, deleting the department's and county boards of health's power to mandate vaccination or other disease-prevention measures and the prior religious-objection exemption tied to that power.
• New subsection (a) bars any government requirement of vaccination or proof of postinfection recovery for access to government services, employment, licensure, education, transportation, child care, healthcare or long-term care facilities, or businesses.
• New subsection (b) prohibits governments from issuing vaccine or immunization passports or similar health status documentation, or requiring sharing of immunization records, except where otherwise required by law.
• New subsection (c) bars government mask or facial covering mandates aimed at limiting spread of contagious or infectious disease.
• New subsection (d) prohibits businesses operating in Georgia from requiring customers to show vaccination or recovery proof or wear a mask to receive goods or services.
• Section 3 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-09House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-06House Hopper (House)

• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)Primary sponsor
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)

• vaccine mandates
• public health law
• mask mandates
• medical freedom
• Georgia Department of Public Health