BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 407
89R18808 MCF-F	By: Middleton
	Health & Human Services
	4/15/2025
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In Texas, health care facilities are authorized to implement vaccine-preventable disease policies for their staff. However, current legislation allows these facilities discretion in granting exemptions, leading to instances where exemption requests based on personal or religious beliefs are often denied. This practice restricts the ability of individuals to opt out of vaccination mandates due to their conscientious convictions.

The discretionary power of health care facilities to deny vaccine exemptions on grounds of conscience or religious belief raises concerns about personal autonomy and religious freedom. Employees may be compelled to receive vaccinations that conflict with their personal or religious convictions, potentially leading to coercion and discrimination at the workplace.

Overview

S.B. 407 aims to address this issue by:

� Mandating that vaccine-preventable disease policies in health care facilities include procedures allowing exemptions for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs.

� Prohibiting health care facilities from rejecting exemption requests made on these grounds.

Committee Substitute

There are no significant changes to our bill from this committee substitute. This is Texas Legislative Council-suggested language.

C.S.S.B. 407 amends current law relating to a health care facility's required policy for vaccine preventable diseases.

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 vaccine preventable diseases policy to include, procedures for a covered individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, and prohibit a health care facility from rejecting, for any reason, an exemption based on reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.