GOP lawmakers block bill to drop school mandate for meningitis vaccine

Published: April 16, 2026

By: Sheridan White, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — A proposal to roll back requirements for the meningitis vaccine in Louisiana schools stalled this week after facing opposition from medical professionals and lawmakers in both parties.

House Bill 737, authored by Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Houma, failed in the House Education Committee on an 8-4 vote.

Six Republicans voted to preserve the requirement for the meningitis vaccine. They were Reps. Laurie Schlegel of Metairie, Reese Broussard of Jennings, Kim Carver of Mandeville, Barbara Freiberg of Baton Rouge, Vincent St. Blanc of Franklin and Phillip Tarver of Lake Charles.

The bill received support from Amedee and Republican Reps. Charles Owen of Rosepine, Kathy Edmonston of Gonzales and Josh Carlson of Lafayette.