SF4007

Purpose

This bill would prohibit state agencies, political subdivisions, and private businesses from requiring vaccination against a communicable disease or demanding proof of vaccination as a condition to enter, work, provide services, or receive services. It also specifies certain exceptions and notes that the provisions would be codified in Minnesota Statutes chapter 145.

Subdivision 1 – Definitions

• Communicable disease: a disease or condition where the infectious agent can pass between people directly or indirectly.
• Political subdivision: includes counties, cities/towns, school districts, and other legally created local governing entities.
• State agency: any entity in the executive, judicial, or legislative branches of state government.

Subdivision 2 – Vaccine Requirements Prohibited

• State agencies and political subdivisions may not adopt or enforce any law, rule, policy, order, resolution, or other regulation that requires vaccination against a communicable disease or proof of vaccination.
• Private businesses in Minnesota may not adopt, enforce, or require any policy, order, resolution, or regulation that requires vaccination or proof of vaccination as a condition to enter the workplace, provide services, or receive services.

Subdivision 3 – Exceptions

• The prohibitions do not apply to vaccine requirements established in sections 121A.15 or 135A.14 or to requirements in Minnesota Rules chapter 4604.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a broad prohibition on vaccine mandates by state agencies, political subdivisions, and private businesses, with limited, specified exceptions.
• Proposes coding these provisions into Minnesota Statutes chapter 145, clarifying the legal framework for health-related vaccine policy.

Potential Impacts and Implications

• Public health policy: Could limit or prevent vaccination mandates in government and private sectors.
• Employment and service access: May affect requirements employers or service providers might have historically used for vaccination verification.
• Legal alignment: Creates a unified statutory prohibition with narrowly defined exceptions, potentially affecting existing or future public health orders.

Relevant Terms vaccine requirements prohibited; communicable disease; state agency; political subdivision; Minnesota Statutes chapter 145; section 121A.15; section 135A.14; Minnesota Rules chapter 4604; proof of vaccination; enter into work; provide services; receive services; regulation; policy; order; resolution; exception.