On September 17, 2025, Governor Newsom signed AB 144, a bill that changes how vaccine policy gets made in California — and many parents are asking: what does this really mean?
Here’s the quick answer: it doesn’t change exemptions, but it does change who holds the power to shape the vaccine schedule and how those decisions get made.
And that’s where things get murky.
1. It Shifts Power Away from the Public
Before AB 144, any vaccine-policy change had to go through California’s Administrative Procedure Act — meaning public notice, comments, and hearings.
Now? The Department of Public Health (CDPH) can update the state’s vaccine list without that process.
No hearings. No public comment. No warning.
Parents see that as a loss of transparency — and a big red flag.
2. It Creates Two Different Vaccine Schedules
AB 144 “freezes” the federal schedule as of January 1, 2025, then lets California modify it.
That means there could soon be two lists:
- One from Washington,
- One from Sacramento.
Doctors and parents could be staring at different guidance — and no one will know which one rules until the state clarifies.
3. It Expands State Power Without Clear Limits
The law lets CDPH “modify or supplement” the schedule indefinitely.
There’s no rule for how often, how much evidence is needed, or what oversight exists.
That open-ended authority feels like a blank check to a lot of parents who’ve already seen how fast “recommendations” can turn into requirements.
4. It Ties Insurance Coverage to State Decisions
Insurers must now cover — at no cost — every vaccine CDPH puts on the California list.
Sounds good on paper.
But when coverage becomes automatic, it creates financial pressure to comply, not consent.
The worry: “recommended” could quietly become “expected.”
5. It Expands Liability Protection for Providers
AB 144 gives vaccine providers legal safe harbor through 2030 if they follow the state’s rules.
Parents get no matching protection if something goes wrong.
To informed-consent advocates, that’s a lopsided deal:
- Doctors gain immunity,
- Parents lose accountability.
6. It Makes an Already-Complex System Even More Confusing
With a “baseline” federal list, a “state-modified” list, and separate school-requirement rules — no one can easily tell what applies where.
For busy families just trying to make thoughtful choices, that’s chaos in legal clothing.
Tony’s Take
“AB 144 gave Sacramento a faster way to change the vaccine playbook without asking parents first.
It doesn’t change exemptions, but it makes the rules murkier.
One list in D.C., another in Sacramento — and parents caught in the middle.
The system says it’s about ‘efficiency.’ I call it confusion with a bow on it.”
🔍 In summary
- Less transparency → No public hearings or APA process.
- Dual schedules → Federal vs. California versions = confusion.
- Broad agency power → CDPH can change rules rapidly.
- Coverage pressure → Insurance & bonus systems can act like indirect mandates.
- Liability imbalance → Protects providers, not families.
- Complexity → Parents can’t easily tell what’s “required” vs. “recommended.”
Bottom Line
AB 144 didn’t add new mandates — but it rewired the process behind the scenes.
Now, changes can happen faster, with less visibility, and with more pressure downstream.
That’s why parents who care about informed consent are paying attention.
Because when laws shift quietly, confusion spreads faster than truth.
Join the Crew
Stay ahead of policy changes before they hit your inbox from the school district.
