HB 950: Education; provide information regarding immunization requirements and exemptions from such requirements to parents and guardians; require schools and child care facilities

Georgia law already requires most students to be immunized before attending school or child care, with certain exemptions available through an affidavit process. Under current law, schools are not specifically required to explain exemption options to parents in the same way they explain the immunization requirements themselves. This bill amends Georgia's student immunization law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-771) to add a new subsection requiring every school and child care facility to give parents and guardians information about each required immunization and about exemptions from those requirements. The exemption information must be presented in the same manner and format as the immunization requirement information, and it must explain how parents can complete the exemption affidavit already allowed under the law. The change would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

• Adds a new subsection to Georgia's student immunization law requiring schools and child care facilities to inform parents about required immunizations.
• Requires those same schools and facilities to also inform parents about exemptions from immunization requirements.
• Mandates that exemption information be given in the same manner and format as immunization requirement information, so it is not downplayed or omitted.
• Requires the exemption information to explain how parents complete the existing exemption affidavit under subsection (e) of the law.
• Sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

Parents and guardians of children enrolled in Georgia public and private schools and child care facilities, the schools and facilities themselves, which must provide the new information, and the Department of Public Health, which sets the underlying immunization requirements referenced in the law.

Parents would receive clearer, more balanced information about both immunization requirements and their legal options to exempt their children, potentially making it easier for families to understand or use the exemption affidavit process already allowed under Georgia law.

• Section 1 adds subsection (i) to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-771, requiring schools and child care facilities to provide immunization requirement information to parents and guardians.
• Section 1 also requires exemption information to be given in the same manner and format, including guidance on completing the exemption affidavit described in subsection (e).
• Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)Primary sponsor
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)

• school immunizations
• vaccine exemptions
• child care regulations
• education policy