VACCINES/VACCINATION: Provides relative to the requirement that certain students present evidence of immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of school entry

HLS 26RS-1330 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 737
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
VACCINES/VACCINATION: Provides relative to the requirement that certain students
present evidence of immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition of
school entry
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:170(A)(2) and 170.1(Section heading) and to repeal R.S.
3 17:170.1(A) and (C) through (G) and 170.4, relative to immunizations; to remove the
4 requirement that certain students present evidence of immunization against
5 meningococcal disease as a condition of school entry; to provide relative to the
6 diseases on the vaccine schedule approved by the office of public health; and to
7 provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 17:170(A)(2) and R.S. 17:170.1(Section heading) are hereby
10 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §170. Immunization of persons entering schools, kindergartens, colleges,
12 proprietary or vocational schools, and day care centers for the first time;
13 immunization of persons entering sixth grade; electronic transmission of
14 immunization compliance reports; exemption
15 A.
16 * * *
17 (2) The schedule shall include but not be limited to measles, mumps, rubella,
18 diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, meningococcal disease, and
19 hemophilus influenzae Type B invasive infections.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1330 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 737
1 * * *
2 §170.1. Immunizations of persons registering for courses at postsecondary
3 education institutions requirements; exceptions; electronic transmission of
4 immunization compliance reports Immunization information; meningococcal
5 disease; postsecondary education institutions
6 * * *
7 Section 2. R.S. 17:170.1(A) and (C) through (G) and 170.4 are hereby repealed in
8 their entirety.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 737 Original 2026 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Removes requirement for submission of evidence of immunization against
meningococcal disease as a condition of school entry.
Present law provides with respect to immunization of persons entering schools for the first
time (daycare through college). Requires each person, at the time of registration or entry,
to present satisfactory evidence of immunity to or immunization against vaccine-preventable
diseases according to a schedule approved by the office of public health, Dept. of Health, or
to present evidence of an immunization program in progress. Provides that such schedule
include but not be limited to specified diseases, including meningococcal disease. Proposed
law removes meningococcal disease from this list.
Present law requires a student to provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization
against meningococcal disease as a condition of entry into sixth grade and 11th grade and
as a condition of course registration at a postsecondary education institution. Proposed law
repeals present law.
Present law requires K12 schools and postsecondary educations to provide information to
students about meningococcal disease and the vaccine. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:170(A)(2) and 170.1(Section heading); Repeals R.S. 17:170.1(A) and (C)-
(G) and 170.4)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.