HB187 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to vaccines; to amend Section 22-8-4, Code of Alabama 1975; to require consent of a parent or legal guardian for any minor to receive a vaccination.

Summary

HB187 would require parental or legal guardian consent for any minor to receive a vaccination, changing the current allowance for some minors to consent to other medical services.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 22-8-4 of the Alabama Code to require a parent or legal guardian's consent before a vaccination can be given to a minor. It specifies that unemancipated minors cannot consent to vaccinations on their own, even if they can consent to other medical, dental, or mental health services. The law would take effect on the first day of the third month after it passes and the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• Unemancipated minors (under 18) would need parental or guardian consent to receive any vaccination.
• Parents or legal guardians would be responsible for giving consent before a minor can be vaccinated, and health care providers would need to obtain that consent before administering vaccines.

Key Provisions

• Replaces consent for vaccination with parental or guardian consent requirement in Section 22-8-4.
• Maintains existing framework that minors can consent to certain medical services, but vaccination is exempt from self-consent for unemancipated minors.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Vaccines, parental consent for minor to receive vaccine, required