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SB 450CONNECTICUTSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Connecticut bill expands immunization standards of care, creates adult vaccine program, and clarifies religious freedom exemption rules

Original title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR IMMUNIZATION.

Last action · April 7, 2026: File Number 476Sponsors: Martha Marx and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

The bill requires the Department of Public Health to establish immunization standards of care for adults alongside children, creates a state-administered Vaccines for Adults Program for uninsured and underinsured residents, and explicitly excludes school immunization requirements from the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Background
  • The General Assembly is the state legislative body of Connecticut responsible for passing state laws and appropriations. context
  • In 2021, Connecticut enacted legislation eliminating religious exemptions from school immunization requirements, which led to subsequent ongoing legal challenges such as Spillane v. Lamont. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Uninsured and underinsured adults

Adults ages 19 and older may receive vaccines at no cost through the newly established Vaccines for Adults Program administered by the Department of Public Health.

Directly affected

Licensed pharmacists

Pharmacists are granted expanded authority to order, prescribe, and administer FDA-approved vaccines listed in the state's immunization standards of care to adults and eligible minors.

Directly affected

Health insurance policyholders

Directly affected

Nursing home facilities

Nursing homes must comply with updated Department of Public Health regulations regarding resident immunizations for respiratory viral diseases.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive vaccines through the new Vaccines for Adults Program?
Adults ages 19 and older who are uninsured or underinsured can receive vaccines administered by eligible health care providers, provided the vaccine is not already covered by their health insurance or a payment plan.
Can pharmacists administer vaccines to teenagers under this bill?
Yes, licensed pharmacists may administer vaccines listed in the state's immunization standards to patients between 12 and 18 years of age with parental consent or proof of emancipation.
How does this bill affect religious exemptions for school vaccinations?
The bill explicitly states that the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not apply to school and day care immunization requirements.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the Senate floor.

Procedural history

9 actions
  1. Apr 7, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    File Number 476
  2. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Senate Calendar Number 288
  3. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
  4. Apr 7, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
  5. Mar 30, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 12:00 PM
  6. Mar 19, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
Show 3 earlier actions
  1. Mar 18, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Joint Favorable Substitute
  2. Mar 6, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Public Hearing 03/11
  3. Mar 5, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyCommittee
    Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Martha MarxSenate · District 20Democratic/Working FamiliesCosponsor
Nick GauthierHouse · District 38DemocraticCosponsor

Discoveries

2 patterns noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion from Pediatric to Lifespan Immunization Standards

The legislation shifts state health policy from focusing primarily on pediatric immunization standards to establishing formal state standards of care for adults as well.

Department of Public Health
cross reference90% confidence

Litigation Context for Religious Freedoms

The statutory exclusion of RFRA from school immunization requirements directly interacts with pending state court litigation challenging prior legislative removals of religious exemptions.

Spillane v. Lamont

Connected Entities

American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 11 more
OrganizationAmerican Academy of Family Physicians“Organization publishing recommended immunization schedules.”Map →
OrganizationAmerican Academy of Pediatrics“Organization publishing recommended immunization schedules.”Map →
OrganizationAmerican College of Obstetrics and Gynecology“Organization whose recommended schedules may be considered.”Map →
OrganizationFood and Drug Administration“Federal agency licensing vaccines.”Map →
otherSpillane v. Lamont“State Supreme Court case regarding religious exemptions.”Map →
OrganizationPublic Health Committee“Legislative committee reporting the substitute bill.”Map →
PersonSen. Anwar“Chairperson of the Public Health Committee.”Map →
OrganizationNational Centers for Disease Control and Prevention“Federal agency publishing immunization schedules.”Map →
PersonInsurance Commissioner“Informed of immunization appropriation amounts.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Public Health“State agency tasked with establishing immunization standards and administering v”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Social Services“Consulted on nursing home immunization regulations.”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Policy and Management“Office whose Secretary consults on immunization appropriations.”Map →
PersonRep. Nick Gauthier“Co-sponsor of the bill, representing the 38th District.”Map →
PersonSen. Martha Marx“Co-sponsor of the bill, representing the 20th District.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

cga.ct.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
  • Controversy75
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz50
    Current news / social attention level

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