Wyoming House drops most anti-vax proposals in first week of session

Of the six anti-vaccine bills filed in the Wyoming Legislature this year, only one remains. The other five were never considered for introduction.

The Wyoming House advanced just one anti-vaccine bill — from a menu of six — during the first week of the Wyoming Legislature’s 2024 Budget Session.

All five other bills — including proposals to mark donated blood from vaccinated donors, to repeal the state’s ability to promote smallpox vaccines and to prohibit individuals from requiring masks or other preventive measures in public spaces — failed to be considered before the deadline for introduction Friday evening.

The one anti-vaccine proposal still on the table, House Bill 44, seeks to repeal provisions that currently “authorize vaccination or medical treatment of minor children without parental consent,” during a public health emergency.

The bill comes at a time in Wyoming’s history when more and more children are being sent to school without crucial vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) or polio. Thanks to the growing number of vaccination exemptions granted to families of kindergartners, the state is falling below the required threshold for herd immunity for many of the diseases that routine childhood vaccinations are meant to immunize against.

House Bill 44 received little discussion on the House floor before winning a healthy 52-9 vote.

“We hold to the principle that parents are the primary stakeholders and caretakers of their children's health, and this bill reinforces that,” said Rep. Jeanette Ward (HD-57), who originally brought the bill. “It repeals a provision authorizing specified minors to consent to tobacco cessation treatment without the knowledge or consent of their parents. And it repeals a provision authorizing vaccination or medical treatment of minor children without parental consent during a public health emergency.”

The bill is scheduled for consideration by the House Labor Committee Monday.