After more than a year of lobbying by Informed Policy Advocates, California senators will examine how the state’s school vaccine medical exemption process is working for physicians, children, and families.
The California Senate Health Committee has granted Informed Policy Advocates’ request for an informational hearing on school vaccine medical exemptions. The hearing is set for Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific in San Diego.
The committee contacted our Sacramento lobbyists, Sheehy Strategy Group, in advance to let them know the hearing was moving forward. The official public notice will appear on Thursday, November 5, in the Senate Daily File.
Save the Date
Medical Exemption for Immunization Requirements: What does the data say?
Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. Pacific
California Senate Health Committee
County Administration Center, Room 327
1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA
IPA will share livestream and public participation details as the committee releases them.
How IPA’s Request Came Together
IPA has been lobbying for this hearing for more than a year. For the full background, read How IPA’s Request for a Senate Hearing Came Together.
Thank you to everyone who contacted the committee and shared the campaign.
What We Want Lawmakers to Examine
California has more than a decade of policy changes to examine, from SB 277 in 2015 to the changes to medical exemption issuance and review under SB 276 and SB 714 in 2019. IPA wants lawmakers to look at how the process works today and what the state’s data can tell us about its effects.
Physician discretion. Does the prospect of state review or professional scrutiny affect whether physicians are willing to evaluate children or issue exemptions?
Access to evaluations. Can families find a physician willing to evaluate their child? Do medical group policies affect that access? What options do families have while waiting for an evaluation or after an exemption is denied or revoked?
Individualized consideration. How does the process account for a medically complex child’s history and circumstances?
Educational access. When a child cannot obtain an exemption and is unable to enroll in or continue attending school, what happens next? Does the child move to independent study or homeschooling? Do they lose access to services? Do parents have to reduce their work hours or take on additional caregiving costs? Which of these outcomes does California track?
What an Informational Hearing Can Accomplish
An informational hearing gives senators a public forum to hear testimony, examine evidence and state data, question witnesses and agencies, and identify gaps or unintended consequences. Testimony from affected families, physicians, education and disability stakeholders, researchers, and state officials can help lawmakers understand how the process works in practice.
The hearing itself does not change California law. Its immediate purpose is to build a public legislative record. Lawmakers can use that record to decide whether to consider further oversight, administrative action, regulatory changes, or legislation.
The Hearing Date Is Set. Now the Work Begins.
The committee will determine the agenda, format, and invited witnesses. IPA will continue advocating for families and physicians with firsthand experience to be heard alongside state agencies and subject matter experts.
Save November 12 and share this announcement with families, physicians, and organizations that should know about the hearing. For updates, newsletter signups, or to join IPA’s Coalition for Change, visit IPAaction.com.
Support IPA’s lobbying efforts. Your donation helps keep our registered lobbyists working in Sacramento so IPA can follow up with lawmakers after the hearing and continue advocating for informed consent, medical consumer protections, and civil rights in California.
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Informed Policy Advocates is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) organization. Donations are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.