House committee rejects bill to remove meningococcal vaccine school requirement after warnings from doctors and survivors

The House Education Committee voted 4–8 to defeat House Bill 7‑37, an effort to remove the state requirement that students show evidence of meningococcal vaccination to enroll in K–12 and postsecondary schools.

Representative Amade (speaker 14), the bill sponsor, said the measure would align state law with a federal change that moved the meningococcal vaccine from a universal recommendation to a shared clinical‑decision framework for healthy children. "This bill does not ban the vaccine," the sponsor said in opening remarks. "It simply returns the decision to parental consent in consultation with the child's doctor."

The measure drew sharply divided testimony. Dr. Miki Bouquet (speaker 4), a pediatrician representing the Louisiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, urged lawmakers to oppose the bill, saying the vaccine helps reduce bacterial colonization and can prevent rapid outbreaks. "If we were to have an outbreak, many children could get sick and die," she said. Pediatricians in the room warned that removing the requirement could reduce routine immunization rates and leave districts vulnerable in congregate settings such as dorms and classrooms.

Advocates for the bill cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's revised schedules and argued for parental choice. Jill Hines (speaker 19), co‑director of Health Freedom Louisiana, told the committee the federal change and low incidence of disease justify restoring individualized clinical decision making. "The current incidence in the U.S. is 0.12 cases per 100,000," she said, arguing the risk is extremely low.

Survivors provided emotional testimony opposing the change. Crystal Beauchamp (speaker 20) and Elizabeth Estay (speaker 26) described contracting meningococcal disease as college students and the lasting health consequences they endured, including surgeries and amputations. "Meningitis is not a hypothetical. It is a life‑altering disease that I contracted," Beauchamp said.

Public‑health organizations also opposed the bill. Eric Johnson (speaker 24) of Louisiana Families for Vaccines said the law provides important population protections and described the disease as "fast moving" and potentially deadly. He warned that reducing protections could increase cases in high‑risk settings.

After extensive questioning from committee members about outbreak response and whether the state public‑health officer would retain authority to act, Representative Landry (speaker 15) objected when the author moved to report the bill. The roll call showed 4 yeas and 8 nays; the motion to report the bill failed.

The committee record shows the sponsor argued the bill preserves tools for doctors and families while opponents said it removes a key statewide safeguard. With the motion defeated in committee, HB 7‑37 will not advance from the House Education Committee at this time.