Legislation
CURRENT LEGISLATION
The State of Oregon currently has medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions that allow parents the option to opt out of any vaccines currently on the childhood vaccination schedule and are not required in order to attend school. Click here for information on how to obtain an exemption.
The legislative session is currently closed for 2021 and will begin a new session in January 2022. We will keep this page updated as new proposed legislative takes form next year and what action to take. See how you can get involved in the legislative process.
Oregon Legislation History
Oregon definition of Religion for Religious Exemption until 2013 when removed by SB 132.“Religion” is defined in Oregon Administrative Rule 333-050- 0010 as any system of beliefs, practices or ethical values.
2020
HB 254 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: 3rd attempt at a mandate for Oregon and removal of both philosophical and religious exemptions, this bill also aimed to limit medical exemptions further, and added the mandate to children’s facilities along with public school.
2019
HB 3063 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: 2nd attempt at a mandate for Oregon, this bill also aimed to limit medical exemptions further, and added the mandate to children’s facilities along with public school.
HB 2783 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: would require parents to take the educational module AND see a doctor to get a sign off for a non-medical exemption. Changed one word in current law from OR to AND.
School Immunization Data provided by the Oregon Immunization Program
Oregon Immunization Law Summary
2018
HB 4157 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: Requires health benefit plan coverage of specified infectious disease vaccines. Requires specified vaccinations for public school attendance. Attempted to add meningococcal vaccine for students ages 10 and older.
2017
HB 3376 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Directs Oregon Health Authority to establish immunization records retention program.
SB 274 (PASSED)
Outcome: Requires each post-secondary educational institution that provides housing for students to provide to each student enrolling or registering at institution for first time information on vaccine-preventable diseases known to occur in individuals between 16 and 21 years of age.
ISLAC considers adding HPV to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
2015
SB442 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: First mandate bill for school attendance removing the non-medical exemption.
SB895 (PASSED)
Outcome: schools must report to a database ran by OHA every year and publish results online/school on vaccination rates for their school, this includes some children’s facilities/daycares. This information is then published online for public viewing of percentages within each school or children’s facility.
ISLAC considered adding MenB and conjugate to schedule (FAILED)
2013
SB 132 (PASSED)
Outcome: Created the educational module. REMOVED RELIGIOUS DEFINITION and created a “non-medical” exemption and parent now “may” (optional) include a reason why being religious or philosophical.
HB 3000 (PASSED)
Outcome: requires age 7 and under to have an eye screening at school. Allows for parental opt out by form only.
SB 167 (PASSED)
Outcome: allows for pharmacists to administer vaccines in children ages 3 and old during an outbreak or public health crisis.
SB 601 (PASSED)
Outcome: allows for a relative caregiver to provide medical services without authorization to child if “reasonable attempts” are made to seek authorization.
2011
SB 107 (PASSED)
Outcome: allows OHA to release tracking info
HB 3138 (PASSED)
Outcome: updated pharmacy rules to allow participation in vaccines for children program
ISLAC considers adding Meningococcal to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
2010
ISLAC considered adding 2nd varicella to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
ISLAC considered adding Rotovirus to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
ISLAC considered adding Influenza to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
ISLAC considered adding Pneumococcal to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
ISLAC considers adding HPV to schedule (NOT REQUIRED)
2009
HB 3226 (PASSED)
Outcome: Allows pharmacists to administer vaccines over age 11
HB 2009 (PASSED)
Outcome: created Oregon Health Authority (was Health Division/Department of Human Services)
2008
Report: Religious Exemptions to Oregon School Immunization Requirements
2007
HB 2188 (PASSED)
Outcome: allowed parents to access ALERT IIS records, but also added post-secondary education facilities into the ALERT tracking system
HB 2185 (PASSED)
Outcome: created a position for Public Health Director and added definitions to outbreak and disease. Authorizes Public Health Director to adopt rules governing the development of emergency plans and incident management system.
2005
SB 189 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: restricting use of thimerosal in vaccines for those under 18
SB 225 (PASSED)
Outcome: allowed for colleges to add stricter immunization and required documentation, removed allowance of 30 days if moved recently to updated definition of new and transferred student
SB 490 (PASSED)
Outcome: allows for pharmacists to administer flu vaccine to 15 and older
2003
HB 2153 (PASSED)
Allows ALERT to share info anywhere
HB 2244 (PASSED)
Changes who “Authorized User” is for ALERT expanding definition
HB 2251 (PASSED)
Outcome: Adds provisions that in a Public Health Crisis, ALERT can be used for tracking of immunization status and coverage and tracking administration of antibiotics.
2001
HB 2269 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Committee: Filed at request of Gov. Kitzhaber
Outcome: ALERT funding bill to add additional provisions to ALERT.
SB 482 (PASSED)
Outcome: Removed Thimerosal but added a request for the Health Division to add hepatitis A and pneumococcal conjugate by July 2006.
SB 450 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Committee: Rules and Redistricting
Outcome: Allows specifically for a philosophical exemption
1998
Oregon Administrative Rules added by Oregon Health Division
Kindergarten added Hep B and 2nd MMR for 98-99 school year and Varicella for 2000-01 school year
Children’s facilities added Hep B for 98-99 school year and Varicella for 2000-01 school years
7th grade added Hep B, Varicella, and 2nd MMR for 2000-01 school years
1997
SB 317 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: bill to require immunization for tax credit
1995
HB 3446 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: bill to require immunization to get state benefits
HB 3012 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Outcome: bill to require immunization for state benefits
1992
Exclusion for HIB in effect added to yearly exclusion day
1991
Oregon Health Dept (ISLAC) added HIB to the schedule
1982
First exclusion day from HB 2139
1981
HB 2139 (PASSED)
Committee:
Outcome: Added daycare/children’s facilities to required immunization locations outside of public school. Included framework for current “exclusion day” process of examination of records and requiring exclusion in February to start in 1982. This bill was HEAVILY lobbied and pushed by Gov. Vic Atiyeh’s wife.
School Levy in Marion Co to pay for immunization clinics due to new law in 1981 (PASSED)
1980
ISLAC committee created
The Oregon School/Facility Immunization Advisory Committee was established as a part of the school law immunization requirements when the original legislation was passed in 1980.
Required for school: (4)DPT, (2)Polio, (1)MMR
1979
SB 105 (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
Committee: Senate Committee on Education
Outcome: required immunization for all grades (K-12) not just at enrollment. Added additional exclusion rules. Included a “catch-up” program for students who only did one vaccine from 1973 law, wanted to add a $500,000 cost to implement a new program for keeping records and dividing the responsibility between the school district and health department and allowed the release of certain information to health department and parents regarding immunization status. Included Medical and Religious Exemptions.
1977
HB 2435 (PASSED)
Committee: House Committee on Social Services
Outcome: Made rubella mandatory. Tightened the law on new students and how many days before vaccines were administered or statement of exemption was filed. Ages required for vaccination 5-14 years. Included Medical and Religious Exemptions. Vaccines needed for school: DPT, polio, “hard measles” (rubeola)
1973
HB 2042 (PASSED)
Committee: Human Resources/Ways & Means
Outcome: Original bill to require immunization for school attendance. Required for students ages 5 to 14 upon enrollment but did not track or require thereafter. Included Medical and Religious Exemptions. Required a budget of $70,000 to implement.
