Connecticut court upholds school vaccine mandate removal of religious exemptions

A Connecticut court has upheld the state’s removal of religious exemptions for school vaccination requirements. The legal challenge, Spillane v. Lamont, follows a 2021 law that eliminated religious exemptions while grandfathering in students who had already received them.

The Connecticut Supreme Court previously rejected claims that the mandate violated state and U.S. Constitutions. However, the court remanded the case to the Superior Court to specifically review whether the requirements violate the state’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act.

Attorney General William Tong stated that the requirements are “lifesaving and lawful,” noting that the state maintains high vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella. Plaintiffs have criticized the legislative changes, arguing they represent an abuse of government power and an infringement on individual liberties.