Reps. Melanie Miller, Monica Robb Blasdel Provide Sponsor Testimony on Parental C.H.O.I.C.E Bill

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) and Monica Robb Blasdel (R- New Waterford) today provided sponsor testimony in the House Health Committee on House Bill 561, the Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act (Clarity on Health Options and Information on Conscientious Exemptions), legislation which aims to strengthen and protect parental rights regarding vaccine exemptions in schools, preschools, and daycares across Ohio. 

The bill aims to ensure parents are fully informed of their existing rights under Ohio law to claim vaccine exemptions for children to attend licensed daycares, pre-schools, and K-12 public and nonpublic chartered schools.

“The Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act will allow families to be informed and empowered to make choices that best fit their values and circumstances,” said Rep. Miller. “Together, the provisions included in the bill reflect Ohio’s commitment to clarity, fairness, and respect for parental decision making.”

“House Bill 561 is a transparency and clarity bill, and it does not create new exemptions,” said Rep. Blasdel. “Instead, it ensures that parents, schools, and childcare providers all have a clear understanding of what current Ohio law already requires—and just as importantly, what it does not require.”

The Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act includes the following provisions:

Requires all K–12 schools, preschools, and daycares that mandate vaccines to honor Ohio’s current medical, religious, and conscientious exemptions – protecting existing vaccine exemptions.

Prohibits schools from requiring additional documentation or forcing parents to use a specific exemption form – limiting overreach in exemption requests.

Requires schools to clearly inform parents of exemption rights and cite the relevant law in all communications about vaccine requirements including websites, emails, and social media – improving transparency for parents.

Removes hepatitis B vaccine requirement for preschoolers – aligning with federal recommendations to implement shared clinical decision making.

Establishes a complaint and enforcement process, allowing parents to report violations to the appropriate compliance agency, which must review complaints and notify schools of noncompliance within 14 days – ensuring accountability. 

Stipulates that schools may not exclude healthy, uninfected children from attendance solely based on their vaccination status during disease outbreaks (e.g., chickenpox or measles), if they have a lawful exemption – preventing discriminatory exclusion during outbreaks.

Under current Ohio law, there are conscientious, religious, and medical vaccine exemptions that have existed in the law for decades, which are not impacted by this bill. House Bill 561 simply ensures that parents are fully informed about these exemptions and that they receive consistent guidance depending on the school or childcare provider. 

House Bill 561 now awaits additional hearings in the House Health Committee.