HB1242: HB1242 Medical Freedom Act; enact

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3), the Department of Public Health and county boards of health can require people to be vaccinated against contagious diseases and can adopt other rules to stop disease spread, with a religious objection exemption outside of epidemics. This bill would strike that authority entirely. In its place, the bill would prohibit any state or local government entity from requiring a vaccine, proof of recovery from a past infection, or a mask as a condition for things like a government service, a job, a professional license, school enrollment, using transportation, or entering a business. It would also stop governments from issuing vaccine or immunization passports or similar health certification documents. Separately, it would bar private businesses in Georgia from requiring customers to show vaccination or recovery proof or wear a mask to receive goods or services. The bill would be called the 'Medical Freedom Act' and would repeal conflicting laws.

• Repeals the Department of Public Health's and county boards of health's power to require vaccination against contagious or infectious diseases (O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3).
• Bars state and local government entities from requiring a vaccine or proof of postinfection recovery as a condition of government services, jobs, licenses, school enrollment, transportation access, or entry to businesses.
• Prohibits state and local governments from issuing vaccine passports, immunization passes, or similar documents certifying a person's health status.
• Bans state or local mandates requiring people to wear face masks or other facial coverings to slow disease spread.
• Prohibits private businesses operating in Georgia from requiring customers to show vaccination or recovery proof or wear a mask to enter or receive goods or services.

The Department of Public Health and county boards of health, state and local government agencies, public schools and colleges, employers, licensing boards, transportation providers, child care and healthcare facilities, and private businesses and their customers in Georgia are all affected by these new restrictions.

If enacted, Georgia public health officials would lose their current legal tool to mandate vaccination during disease outbreaks, and neither government agencies nor private businesses could require proof of vaccination, recovery, or mask-wearing for everyday activities like work, school, transportation, or shopping.

• 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' existing power to mandate vaccination and other preventive measures.
• New subsection (a) bars any government mandate of vaccination or postinfection proof for access to government services, employment, licensure, education, transportation, care facilities, or businesses.
• New subsection (b) prohibits governments from issuing vaccine or immunization passports or similar health status certification documents.
• New subsection (c) bars government orders requiring people to wear face masks or facial coverings to limit disease spread.
• New subsection (d) bars private businesses from requiring customers to show vaccination or recovery documentation 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
• business regulations