Rep. Rhyne files bill in North Carolina House on childhood vaccine requirements

A new bill filed by State Rep. Heather H. Rhyne seeks to regulate vaccine additions to North Carolina’s childhood immunization schedule and clarify parental responsibilities for immunizations, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 803 on April 7 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘3-Year FDA Approval for New Childhood Vaxx.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the requirements for adding new vaccines to North Carolina’s childhood immunization schedule. It prohibits the Commission for Public Health from including any new vaccines unless they have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for at least three years. Alternatively, if a vaccine has been FDA-approved for less than three years, it can be added based on the recommendation of both the North Carolina Medical Society Board of Directors and the North Carolina Pediatric Society Board of Directors. The bill mandates parent or guardian responsibility for ensuring timely immunization of children and outlines conditions under which exemptions and administrative rules for vaccines may apply. Additionally, it restricts mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations by educational institutions except where required for specific programs. The act takes effect upon enactment and applies to new vaccine requirements established thereafter.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (40) 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.

Rhyne graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998.

Rhyne, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 97th House district, replacing previous state representative Jason Saine.