Secures religious exemptions in Tennessee law for childhood vaccinations.

HB264 will prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from requiring an immunization unless exemptions are provided for persons who file signed, written statements affirming that the immunization conflicts with their religious tenets and practices; makes certain other changes related to immunizations.

Neither the state nor government entities such as the health department or department of education can require certain immunizations when a religious exemption is filed.

This bill removes the “in absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic” requirement from the religious exemption in current law to childhood immunizations. It further adds that if a person files a statement of religious objection, then no form of proof of the person’s religious conviction beyond the signed, written statement is required.