HB279 • 2026

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS; INFORMATION

An Act relating to the power of the commissioner of health to require certain immunizations; relating to immunizations required to participate in youth athletics; relating to immunizations required by the University of Alaska; relating to the provision of vaccine information to the parents of minor patients; and providing for an effective date.

Children Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE
Last action: 2026-01-23
Official status: (H) HSS
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies 'full approval' by the FDA but does not define what happens if no fully approved vaccine exists for a specific disease.

HB 279: Rules for Vaccines in Schools and Sports

This bill requires that vaccines used by schools, youth sports groups, the University of Alaska, and doctors must be fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

What This Bill Does

Allows school districts to require immunizations if the health commissioner decides it is needed for public safety in their area.
Requires that any vaccine used for students participating in youth sports activities has full FDA approval.
Permits the University of Alaska to require student vaccinations using only vaccines with full FDA approval.
Mandates that doctors give parents a CDC fact sheet or an FDA emergency use authorization sheet before vaccinating children under 18.

Who It Names or Affects

School districts and their governing bodies
Youth participating in interscholastic sports activities
Students attending the University of Alaska
Health care providers who give vaccines to minors

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Health: The state official responsible for deciding if immunizations are necessary in a specific area.
Interscholastic activity: Sports or competitions organized between schools, as defined by Alaska law.
FDA approval: Full permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to use a vaccine.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not list specific diseases that schools must require vaccines for.
School districts can only set requirements if the health commissioner decides it is necessary in their area.
The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-01-23 1484
(H) REFERRED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
2026-01-23 1484
(H) HSS, JUD
2026-01-23 1484
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS; INFORMATION
An Act relating to the power of the commissioner of health to require certain immunizations; relating to immunizations required to participate in youth athletics; relating to immunizations required by the University of Alaska; relating to the provision of vaccine information to the parents of minor patients; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0279a -1- HB 279
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0882\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 279

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE

Introduced: 1/23/26
Referred: Health and Social Services, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the power of the commissioner of health to require certain 1
immunizations; relating to immunizations required to participate in youth athletics; 2
relating to immunizations required by the University of Alaska; relating to the provision 3
of vaccine information to the parents of minor patients; and providing for an effective 4
date." 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 6
* Section 1. AS 14.30.125 is amended to read: 7
Sec. 14.30.125. Immunization. If, in the judgment of the commissioner of 8
health, it is necessary for the welfare of the children or the general public in an area, 9
the governing body of the school district shall require the children attending school in 10
that area to be immunized against the diseases the commissioner of health may 11
specify. The governing body may require a child to be immunized only with a 12
vaccine that has received full approval by the United States Food and Drug 13
34-LS0882\N
HB 279 -2- HB0279a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

Administration. 1
* Sec. 2. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 2
Sec. 14.30.367. Immunizations required to participate in interscholastic 3
activities. An association that administers and promotes interscholastic activities in 4
the state may, in order to participate in an interscholastic activity, require a youth to be 5
immunized only with a vaccine that has received full approval by the United States 6
Food and Drug Administration. In this section, "interscholastic activity" has the 7
meaning given to "interscholastic activities" in AS 14.30.365(c). 8
* Sec. 3. AS 14.40 is amended by adding a new section to read: 9
Sec. 14.40.053. Immunizations required by the University. The University 10
of Alaska may require a student to be immunized only with a vaccine that has received 11
full approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 12
* Sec. 4. AS 18.05 is amended by adding a new section to read: 13
Sec. 18.05.067. Vaccine information. Before administering a vaccine to a 14
child under 18 years of age, a health care provider shall provide to the child's parent or 15
legal guardian a copy of the statement produced by the United States Centers for 16
Disease Control and Prevention that describes the risks and benefits of the vaccine or, 17
if the vaccine is authorized for use because of a public health emergency, a copy of the 18
vaccine's emergency use authorization fact sheet produced by the United States Food 19
and Drug Administration. In this section, "vaccine" has the meaning given in 20
AS 18.09.990. 21
* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 22