HB444 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Vaccines; private schools and church schools required to accept religious exemptions to vaccine requirements, penalties provided

Summary

HB444 would require religiously-affiliated private and church schools to accept religious exemptions to vaccine or disease testing requirements and impose penalties on schools that do not.

What This Bill Does

If a religious private or church school requires vaccination or testing, the school must allow a religious exemption. A parent or guardian can provide a simple written statement declaring the exemption for religious reasons, without needing to explain or get approval. If a school fails to accept religious exemptions, it would face corporate income tax and ad valorem tax, lose certain tax exemptions, and become ineligible to receive CHOOSE Act funding.

Who It Affects

• Parents/guardians of students at religious private or church schools: can exempt their child from vaccine/testing requirements by submitting a short written declaration.
• Religious private or church schools: must accept religious exemptions; face tax penalties and loss of CHOOSE Act funding if they do not comply.

Key Provisions

• Private or church schools affiliated with a religious institution may not require vaccination or disease testing as a condition of enrollment unless they offer a religious exemption.
• A religious exemption may be granted with a simple written declaration from the parent/guardian describing that the vaccine/testing conflicts with religious beliefs, with no need for explanation or third-party verification.
• If a school violates the exemption requirement, it shall be subject to corporate income tax and ad valorem tax, may not claim certain tax exemptions, and shall not be eligible to receive CHOOSE Act funds.
• The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Health