Bills › 91st General Assembly
Striking elementary and secondary student immunization requirements
Sponsored by Rep. Zach Dieken (R)
Topics:K–12 educationHealth care
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 29, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa would no longer require students to show proof of specific vaccinations to enroll in elementary or secondary schools. This change also removes the requirement for schools to provide parents with information about immunization exemptions.1
Read the official explanation
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill strikes elementary and secondary student immunization requirements. Current law provides that a person shall not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school in Iowa without evidence of adequate immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola, rubella, and varicella. The bill strikes this provision. Current law provides that evidence of hepatitis type B immunization shall be required of a child born on or after July 1, 1994, prior to enrollment in school in kindergarten or in a grade. The bill strikes this provision. Current law provides that a person shall not be enrolled in school in grades or in Iowa without evidence of adequate immunization against meningococcal disease in accordance with standards approved by the United States public health service of the United States department of health and human services for such biological products and in accordance with immunization practices recommended by the advisory committee on immunization practices of the centers for disease control and prevention. The bill strikes this provision. Current law requires that information regarding immunization exemptions and the requirements for an exemption shall be included in any communication regarding immunizations to a parent or legal guardian from a school and shall be included in registration documents for all elementary and secondary schools. The bill strikes these provisions.8. The bill strikes this provision.8. The bill strikes this provision. The bill makes conforming changes.
House subcommittee
Named January 29, 2026. On February 4, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
99 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 4, 2026 (99) · on the Legislature’s site