IPA Formally Requests Senate Informational Hearing on School Vaccine Exemption Policies
California deserves a public hearing!
On June 1, 2026, Informed Policy Advocates (IPA) formally submitted a request to the California Senate Health Committee calling for an informational hearing regarding California’s school vaccine medical exemption system and implementation practices.
But our work toward an informational hearing did not begin with the April 2026 hearing on SB 1377.
IPA has been working to bring these issues before lawmakers in a public informational hearing since the 2025 legislative session.
After years of implementation, families and physicians have raised concerns about how California’s medical exemption process is functioning in practice. IPA believes those concerns warrant a public legislative examination where lawmakers can hear from affected families, physicians, state agencies, healthcare professionals, and subject matter experts.
Why We Asked for This Hearing
2025 | IPA Requests an Informational Hearing
In 2025, IPA approached then Senate Health Committee Chair Senator Caroline Menjivar and requested an informational hearing regarding California’s school vaccine medical exemption process.
The purpose was to bring the appropriate people to the table and provide lawmakers with an opportunity to examine how the system was functioning after years of implementation.
IPA continued gathering information, hearing from families and physicians, and seeking answers about the operation and consequences of the current process.
January 2026 | Seeking Answers from CDPH
IPA worked with Senator Ben Allen on a letter to the California Department of Public Health seeking additional information regarding California’s school vaccine medical exemption process.
The questions addressed implementation, oversight, access, and other concerns being reported by families and physicians.
IPA continued pursuing a public legislative forum where these questions could be examined.
April 2026 | IPA’s Earlier Hearing Request Is Publicly Acknowledged
During the April Senate Health Committee hearing on SB 1377, former Committee Chair Senator Caroline Menjivar publicly acknowledged that IPA had already approached her about an informational hearing the previous year.
Senator Menjivar stated:
“And on your point about the informational hearing, you know, to credit one of my constituents [Jessica Cabrera of IPA] came to me to support this, she asked me for a hearing on this very topic last year… so I would say that one of those requests… did come through.”
IPA’s request for an informational hearing began well before the April 2026 hearing on SB 1377. That hearing brought public attention to work already underway and reinforced the need for a public forum to examine these issues.
April 2026 | Chair Weber Pierson Discusses the Need for an Informational Hearing
During that same hearing, Senate Health Committee Chair Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson addressed questions being raised about California’s medical exemption policies and specifically discussed an informational hearing as a forum for obtaining information before creating additional policy.
Chair Weber Pierson stated:
“I think your questions are extremely valid, which also shows why just doing a bill like this without having the information, without having those sitting here at the table, like an informational hearing, that we have to answer those questions before we create a policy is extremely important.”
Her comments highlighted the value of bringing the relevant parties together, gathering information, and answering outstanding questions through the legislative hearing process.
June 1, 2026 | IPA Formally Calls for a Hearing Date
Building on the work that began in 2025, IPA formally submitted its request to Senate Health Committee Chair Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson on June 1st, asking the committee to convene an informational hearing.
IPA requested a balanced and comprehensive proceeding where lawmakers could hear from families, physicians, healthcare professionals, state agencies, and subject matter experts.
What Should Be Examined?
An informational hearing would provide an opportunity to publicly examine:
• Concerns regarding possible chilling effects on physicians
• Educational impacts on California children and families
• Access to medical exemptions for children with complex medical circumstances
• Physician discretion and individualized medical decision making
• Hospital and clinic policies related to medical exemptions
• Available data regarding implementation and oversight
• Transparency and accountability surrounding implementation practices
An informational hearing does not determine in advance what lawmakers should conclude or what future policy should look like.
It creates a public forum to ask questions, examine information, hear different perspectives, and develop a more complete legislative record.
After years of implementation, IPA believes these issues deserve public examination.
Whether Californians agree or disagree about the underlying policies, families and physicians should have an opportunity to be heard, state agencies should have an opportunity to respond, and lawmakers should have access to the information necessary to evaluate how the existing system is functioning.
Take Action
IPA is encouraging supporters across California to help demonstrate public support for this hearing request by participating in our One Click Action Campaign and contacting the Senate Health Committee.
Supporters can also help by:
Sharing IPA’s announcement on social media
Encouraging others to participate in the action campaign
Following IPA for legislative updates and advocacy efforts
The more public engagement we generate, the harder these concerns become to ignore.
Support Our Work
IPA will continue advocating for informed consent, medical consumer protections, and civil rights while working to ensure California families and healthcare professionals have a voice in public policy discussions. Please help support our advocacy, lobbying, and public education efforts by donating today.
Help Us Keep This Conversation Moving
IPA will continue its work on informed consent, medical consumer protections, and civil rights and will continue seeking opportunities for families and healthcare professionals to participate in public policy discussions.
This effort began long before the April hearing on SB 1377.
In 2025, we asked for an informational hearing. In 2026, that earlier request was publicly acknowledged. Now we are asking Californians to participate in the process.
Visit www.IPAaction.com to learn more and submit your support.
Website: www.informedpolicyadvocates.org
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