A new bill filed by State Rep. Neal Jackson seeks to allow students to attend schools without vaccination certificates if they submit a written statement of religious or conscientious objection, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 380 on March 12 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Conscientious Objections to Vaccine Mandates.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill provides for a conscientious objection exemption to North Carolina’s student vaccination requirements, allowing students to attend schools, colleges, and universities without presenting a certificate of immunization if they or their parents submit a written statement of bona fide religious beliefs or reasons of conscience opposing immunization. Schools and childcare facilities must annually report the number of children with exemptions to the Department. This act becomes effective when it becomes law and applies to public schools and higher education institutions beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mitchell S. Setzer proposed the most bills (17) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Jackson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 78th House district, replacing previous state representative Allen McNeill.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neal Jackson, Jennifer Balkcom, Jonathan L. Almond, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 380 | 03/12/2025 | Conscientious Objections to Vaccine Mandates. |
| Neal Jackson, David Willis, Jeff Zenger, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 301 | 03/05/2025 | Social Media Protections for Minors Under 16. |
| Neal Jackson, Bill Ward, Brian Biggs, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 261 | 03/03/2025 | Sent. Enhancement/Immigration-Related Crimes. |
| Neal Jackson, Brenden H. Jones, Brian Biggs, and Brian Echevarria | HB 244 | 02/27/2025 | Depoliticize Government Property Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Bill Ward, Donnie Loftis, and Keith Kidwell | HB 162 | 02/21/2025 | Local Gov’t Applicants/Criminal History Check. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Brenden H. Jones, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 171 | 02/21/2025 | Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. |
| Neal Jackson, Jeff Zenger, Jennifer Balkcom, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 133 | 02/17/2025 | NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. |
| Neal Jackson and Jimmy Dixon | HB 126 | 02/13/2025 | Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Howard Penny, Jr., and Jimmy Dixon | HB 130 | 02/13/2025 | Agriculture Crops Disaster Relief. |
| Neal Jackson, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., John Sauls, and Paul Scott | HB 100 | 02/11/2025 | Expand Religious Property Tax Exemption. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Brian Biggs, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 87 | 02/10/2025 | Cell Phone-Free Education. |
| Neal Jackson, Jennifer Balkcom, Jimmy Dixon, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 62 | 02/05/2025 | Farmers Protection Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Kyle Hall, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 31 | 02/03/2025 | Make Election Day A State Holiday. |
| Neal Jackson, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Paul Scott | HB 37 | 02/03/2025 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation. |
