Senate BillIntroduced
S 5700: Limits exemptions from immunization requirements by local governments and private entities to medical exemptions; repeals religious exemptions for certain post-secondary students.
What S 5700 does, verified January 8, 2026
The bill aims to limit exemptions from immunizations in New York. No organization or entity can permit a non-medical exemption from immunization requirements. A medical exemption must be established in the same manner as set forth in the existing law. Any provision allowing for a non-medical exemption is deemed null and void. The repeal of certain provisions related to religious exemptions for post-secondary students is also included. The bill's intent is to ensure the state's public health laws are enforced effectively.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO HEALTH (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 5700
- What is the current status of S 5700?
- As of January 8, 2026, S 5700 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 S 5700 pass?
- Not yet. S 5700 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 5700, and where is it now?
- S 5700 was authored by Sen. James Skoufis. Its committee of record is Senate Health.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO HEALTH |
| Feb. 28, 2025 | REFERRED TO HEALTH |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 28, 2025 · 356 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5700 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 28, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to limiting exemptions from immunizations; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating to religious exemptions for certain post-secondary students 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 2164-a to read as follows: 3 § 2164-a. Immunization exemptions. No organization or entity, includ- 4 ing a local government, school board, business, or employer, which 5 requires immunization against any disease shall permit any exemption 6 from such requirement except a medical exemption. Any provision of a 7 law, rule, regulation, or policy adopted by any entity that allows for a 8 non-medical exemption to an immunization requirement shall be deemed 9 null and void. A medical exemption shall be established in the same 10 manner as set forth in subdivision eight of section twenty-one hundred 11 sixty-four of this title. 12 § 2. Subdivision 9 of section 2165 of the public health law is 13 REPEALED. 14 § 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, 15 section or part of this title shall be adjudged by any court of compe- 16 tent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair 17 or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its opera- 18 tion to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part 19 thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment 20 shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared the intent of the legis- 21 lature that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid 22 provisions had not been included herein. 23 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD07135-01-5
Text of S 5700 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions