A 8261: Prohibits administrative agencies from administering or requiring the COVID-19 immunization unless authorized by the legislature.
The bill aims to regulate the administration of COVID-19 immunization in New York State. No immunization for COVID-19 shall be made a mandatory requirement by an administrative agency, unless mandated by the legislature. Children under 18 years old cannot be forced to receive the immunization unless a parent or guardian requests and consents to it. Incapacitated individuals over 18 years old cannot be required to receive the immunization unless their legal guardian chooses to have them immunized. The bill restricts the mandatory immunization of certain groups, including students, teachers, staff, and employees in public or private educational institutions, as well as those who travel or use public transportation. Nursing homes and group homes are also exempt from requiring immunization as a condition of residency, unless mandated by the legislature. The bill also prohibits the requireme…
- What is the current status of A 8261?
- As of January 9, 2026, A 8261 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to health".
- Did A 8261 pass?
- Not yet. A 8261 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 8261, and where is it now?
- A 8261 was authored by Asm. John Mikulin. Its committee of record is Assembly Health.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to health |
| May. 05, 2025 | referred to health |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8261 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY May 5, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MIKULIN -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the administration of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 immunization The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2 2184 to read as follows: 3 § 2184. Novel coronavirus/COVID-19; immunization. 1. No immunization 4 used for the purposes of inducing immunity against COVID-19 in humans in 5 this state shall be made a mandatory immunization issued by an adminis- 6 trative agency. No person shall be required to receive such immunization 7 unless mandated by the legislature. 8 2. No child under the age of eighteen shall be required to receive 9 such immunization against COVID-19 unless a person in a parental 10 relation to such child requests and consents to have the child immunized 11 or unless required by the legislature. For the purpose of this subdivi- 12 sion the term "person in parental relation to a child" shall have the 13 same meaning as set forth in section twenty-one hundred sixty-four of 14 this article. Prior to administering the immunization every health care 15 provider or practitioner shall provide a list of ingredients contained 16 in the immunization as provided by the manufacturer product insert and 17 all potential side effects as indicated by industry studies. 18 3. No incapacitated person shall be required to receive such immuniza- 19 tion against COVID-19 unless a person who is the legal guardian of such 20 incapacitated person chooses to have the incapacitated person immunized 21 or required by law duly enacted by the legislature. For the purposes of 22 this subdivision: (a) the term "incapacitated person" shall mean any 23 person over the age of eighteen who is unable to make or communicate 24 decisions affecting their physical health, safety, or self-care; and (b) 25 the term "legal guardian" shall mean and include any person who is over EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01044-01-5A. 8261 2 1 the age of eighteen and designated by an incapacitated person prior to 2 incapacitation as their legal guardian or a person legally appointed by 3 a court as guardian of such incapacitated person. 4 4. Unless required by the legislature, no administrative agency shall 5 require immunization against COVID-19 for: 6 (a) attendance by students or employment of teachers and staff at any 7 public or private educational institution, school or day care facility; 8 (b) travel to or from any location, including other states or coun- 9 tries; 10 (c) receipt of any government services; 11 (d) entrance into public buildings; 12 (e) employment or continued employment in any business or not-for-pro- 13 fit organization; or 14 (f) use of public transportation. 15 6. No nursing home, state-sponsored group home for adults or children 16 or any other group home shall require immunization against COVID-19 as a 17 condition of residency unless required by the legislature. 18 7. No person shall be required to have, carry or present evidence of 19 having received immunization against COVID-19 unless required by the 20 legislature. 21 § 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 2164 of the public health 22 law, as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read 23 as follows: 24 a. The term "school" means and includes any public, [private or paro-25chial child caring center, day nursery, day care agency, nursery26school,] pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate or 27 secondary school. 28 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.