The Florida Senate on Monday passed the “Medical Freedom Act,” legislation that would create a new exemption from school immunization requirements, allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin to adults without a prescription on a behind-the-counter basis, and bar compelled vaccination under the state’s emergency health powers.
The chamber approved SB 1756, sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough. The bill now moves to the House.
“This legislation ensures parents have the opportunity to make educated medical decisions they believe are best for their school-aged children,” said Sen. Yarborough. “Parents have a fundamental right to choose what they believe is best for their children. This bill strikes the right balance by ensuring parents have information they need to make these important decisions.”
One of the bill’s most significant changes would revise Florida’s school-entry immunization law to allow a child to be exempt from vaccine requirements if a parent submits a Department of Health form stating that immunization conflicts with the parent’s religious tenets or practices or conscience.
The change would broaden existing exemption options by adding conscience objections alongside current pathways. The exemption would apply to children attending K-12 schools and, like existing exemptions, also would extend to preschool and child care settings subject to immunization requirements.
The measure would also impose new notice and consent requirements before a minor receives one or more vaccines. Under the bill, a health care practitioner or paramedic administering a vaccine to a child would have to provide a parent or guardian with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current Vaccine Information Statement for each vaccine, along with materials adopted by the state’s medical and osteopathic boards addressing the role of immunization in communicable disease prevention and vaccine risks, benefits, safety and efficacy.
If more than one vaccine is to be administered, the practitioner would also have to discuss timing options with the parent. A signed acknowledgment confirming receipt of the materials would be required before vaccination.
The legislation also would prohibit vaccine manufacturers from offering or paying, and health care practitioners from receiving, commissions, bonuses, kickbacks or rebates tied to vaccine administration.
Another provision would clarify that the state health officer’s emergency authority to order treatment during a public health emergency does not include the authority to order vaccination, effectively stating that vaccinations cannot be compelled under that section of law.
On ivermectin, the bill would authorize pharmacists to provide the drug to adults age 18 and older without a prescription on a behind-the-counter basis until federal regulators approve it for over-the-counter sale. Before dispensing it, pharmacists would have to provide written information addressing indications, contraindications, dosage and the need for follow-up care with a primary care physician.
“The default decision-maker in a child’s life is the parent – not the government. This legislation not only ensures government is respecting the rights of parents to decide timing for vaccinations, but also makes certain whether they choose to vaccinate, or not, or in part, parents have detailed information available to make these important decisions,” said Senate President Ben Albritton. “Ivermectin has been widely utilized in many communities cross our state for years. Making this medication available behind-the-counter without a prescription is long overdue.”
The bill would also provide immunity from civil, criminal and disciplinary liability for pharmacists and certain licensed practitioners who prescribe, administer or dispense ivermectin in good faith and within the applicable standard of care.
Most of the bill’s provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, though some vaccine-information requirements are tied to later rulemaking by state medical boards.
