Clay Yarborough’s ‘medical freedom’ bill clears first Senate hurdle, despite concerns

A wide-ranging “medical freedom” proposal filed by Sen. Clay Yarborough is advancing to its second committee after the Health Policy panel OK’d it.

But even supporters say the bill (SB 1756) needs more fine-tuning before the floor, raising questions about whether the final version of this legislation will be much different than the current iteration.

“Parents need to be in the driver’s seat,” Yarborough said of his attempt to bolster parental rights.

The bill, which the Jacksonville Republican said “makes great strides to ensure Florida parents can make educated medical decisions for their children,” would prohibit the state health officers from mandating vaccines during public health emergencies. It would also expand religious and conscience-based exemptions for school entry and require new parental acknowledgment forms before minors receive vaccines.

An amendment offered by Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell that would require parents to talk to doctors ahead of their religious or conscience objections was rejected, which ultimately turned her into a “no” on the bill.

Yarborough said parents who choose to have their children vaccinated must have information available with the risks and the benefits. As of the end of 2024, nearly 89% of children had gotten their shots.

The legislation would also allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin, stored behind the counter, without a prescription, and permit parents to request spaced-out vaccine schedules for their children, changes that public health advocates say could weaken uniform immunization standards. An amendment offered by Harrell and adopted Monday provides civil and criminal immunity for that course of treatment for physicians.

Yarborough said ivermectin used at the appropriate dose level is “well-tolerated” according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Debate revealed some division on the committee about this legislation.

“This presents a great deal of angst in me,” Harrell said, adding that herd immunity is under threat and polio could return, just as measles has.

Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood lauded Yarborough’s “intent” but said the policy implications of the bill, including for her minority-majority district, give her pause given that families she represents live close together, sharing space, air and responsibility.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Ralph Massullo, a doctor by trade, said he would support the bill but wanted Yarborough to include more information to educate parents about their health options.

“This is a step in the process. I’d like to see it much better going forward,” Massullo said.

Chair Colleen Burton, a Republican, also tentatively supports the bill, but worries that the legislation could expose children to sickness from those without vaccines.

The House companion measure (HB 917) by Rep. Republican Jeff Holcomb, includes similar provisions. Among them is language barring discrimination based on vaccination status, a move supporters frame as protecting individual rights. But critics warn it could undermine public health protections in schools and other settings.