BOISE — The House Health and Welfare Committee voted Monday on two bills dealing with school immunization requirements and exemptions.

Rep. Jacyn Gallagher, R-Weiser, proposed legislation that would extend to 18-year-old students school immunization exemptions that are allowed for minors for religious or other reasons. The bill would allow students of this age to submit a signed statement to school officials stating their objections to vaccination requirements at public, private or parochial schools in the state, including trade schools, community colleges and universities.

The committee voted to introduce the bill, which allows it to come back for a public hearing.

On Monday, the committee also sent to the House floor HB 438, which requires school districts to notify parents and guardians that immunizations may be refused on “religious and other grounds” and cite the section of code outlining allowed exemptions such as that the immunization registry is not mandatory.

Bill sponsor Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, said the bill is intended for “transparency and clarity.”

She shared notifications that school districts shared with students’ families that said immunization records are required for enrollment in K-12 schools.

“While that is somewhat true, it’s not the whole truth,” Healey said.

Only one person testified on the bill.

Grace Howat of the Idaho Family Policy Center, which is a Christian ministry that promotes “God-honoring public policy,” spoke in support of HB 438. She said many parents don’t realize that Idaho allows children to be opted out of these requirements.

“Parents are responsible for raising their children, not the state,” Howat said.

The committee passed the bill on a party-line vote, with the “no” votes coming from the Democrats, House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, Boise; Reps. Nate Roberts, Pocatello, and Marjorie Wilson, Boise, who’s a long-term substitute for Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise.