# US school vaccine mandate legal challenges > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-school-vaccine-mandate-legal-challenges > Updated: 2026-09-15T17:38:26.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. Legal challenges regarding the removal of religious exemptions for school vaccine mandates have continued in the United States. In New York, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving a Catholic mother seeking a religious exemption for her son to attend public kindergarten. The decision maintains New York’s current enforcement, which only permits medical exemptions for school vaccine requirements. In Connecticut, a court upheld the state’s removal of religious exemptions following a 2021 law. While the Connecticut Supreme Court previously rejected claims that the mandate violated state and U.S. Constitutions, the case was remanded to the Superior Court to determine if the requirements violate the state’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act. Attorney General William Tong described the requirements as “lifesaving and lawful,” while plaintiffs argued the changes constitute an infringement on individual liberties. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-15: Connecticut court upholds school vaccine mandate removal of religious exemptions A Connecticut court upheld the state's removal of religious exemptions for school vaccines, remanding the case to review potential violations of the state's Religious Freedom and Restoration Act. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/connecticut-court-upholds-school-vaccine-mandate-removal-of-religious-exemptions ### 2026-09-09: Supreme Court declines religious vaccine exemption bid The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a New York Catholic woman's request for a religious vaccine exemption for her son to attend public kindergarten. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/supreme-court-declines-religious-vaccine-exemption-bid --- Cite as: US school vaccine mandate legal challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-school-vaccine-mandate-legal-challenges