Though medical practitioners and advocates spoke against the bill, a House subcommittee moved forward Wednesday with a measure limiting minors’ ability to access vaccines related to sexually transmitted diseases without their parents’ approval.
Senate File 304 would remove the ability of minors to consent to vaccinations related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases or infections without their parent’s or guardian’s permission. It is specifically proposing a change to an existing state law that grants minors the legal ability to consent, without input from their parent, to receive medical care related to sexually transmitted diseases.
The proposed change would require parental approval for Iowans under age 18 to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, as well as for the Hepatitis B vaccine. Minors could still consent to other medical care, like diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, without parental consent.
Other vaccinations require parental consent. But the carveout for HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines was created in Iowa law to allow minors — particularly teenagers and adolescents — to access preventative care that their family may oppose for reasons including fear that approving the vaccine may signal approval of sexual activity, and concern that sexual abuse could be exposed if a minor talks to their doctor about the sexually transmitted disease.
Chaney Yeast, speaking on behalf of Blank Children’s Hospital, said parental consent and involvement in health care is always encouraged — but the current language in Iowa law was crafted to support minors in Iowa who may not be in safe home environments.
“We know that intra-familial sexual abuse is the highest type of sexual abuse amongst children, so it typically is someone they know, they love, they trust within the family,” Yeast said. “And so potentially, you have a parent that would keep them from accessing that lifesaving care of the HPV vaccine, because they’re worried about information about the abuse coming to light. So we want to make sure we’re giving kids all the tools they can access to be able to make sure (they’re) safe and healthy.”
But Bree Johnson with Informed Choice Iowa said the language in Iowa’s current law does not serve a majority of Iowa families in which parents are trying to make the best decisions for their children.
“In the end, it is the parents’ role to help determine what is right for their own child, and they are the ones who have their child’s best interests at heart,” Johnson said. “We won’t dispute that isn’t always the case, but the current law doesn’t serve the majority of parents. It is catering to a minority of instances where parents and children are or have the potential to be at odds over this issue.”
Dr. Amy Shriver, a pediatric doctor currently serving as president of the Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said getting parental consent and involvement is “already the standard of care in pediatrics,” and that doctors are not administering vaccines to young children without their guardians’ knowledge. However, she said more autonomy and discretion is given to adolescents at ages 16 and 17 on several medical decisions.
“Iowa already recognizes adolescents’ ability to receive confidential care for certain health concerns, including mental health, sexual health and substance use, because it improves safety and health outcomes,” Shriver said. “… Iowa pediatricians want to partner with families and legislators to protect kids’ health and reduce cancer in our state. Senate File 304 moves us away from established best practices in adolescent care and cancer prevention.”
Amy Campbell, representing the Iowa Nurses Association, said the measure would create an “unnecessary barrier to one of the most effective cancer prevention tools.” HPV can cause several types of genital cancer, including cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer and vaginal cancer. Campbell said studies have shown the use of the HPV vaccine dramatically reduces instances of cervical cancer, especially for people vaccinated before age 17, in comparison to unvaccinated populations.
“I think it’s really important to also note that the earlier you get it, the better,” Campbell said. “You only have to have two doses of the vaccine if you do it at a younger age, versus when you get older, you have to have an additional third vaccine. It also is only really effective if it happens before sexual activity begins.”
Jackie Cale with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said the organization was encouraged by Gov. Kim Reynolds and state lawmakers stating they want to address Iowa’s place as a state with the second-highest cancer rate and one of the fastest growing cancer rates in the country. However, she said, this bill would be “a step backwards in the fight against cancer in Iowa.”
“Even the governor yesterday mentioned cancer prevention and early detection of the state, which is fantastic to see, but this bill would directly conflict with that message,” Cale said. “So instead of looking at ways to prevent minors from having access to safe and effective forms of cancer prevention, we would encourage focusing on promoting education and awareness of the vaccine.”
The bill passed the Iowa Senate in April 2025 in a 33-14 vote, but was not taken up by the House before session ended. But as 2026 is the second year of the 91st Iowa General Assembly, legislation from the 2025 session can be brought up and considered as a continuation of the previous year’s actions.
Republican Reps. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, and Austin Harris, R-Moulton, supported the bill moving forward while Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, opposed the bill. It moves next to the full House Health and Human Services Committee.
Harris said he did not doubt the science showing the HPV vaccine’s effectiveness in cancer prevention efforts.
“To me, it’s never been about questioning the efficacy of the vaccine,” Harris said. “It’s about whether parents have ultimate control over their children’s health.”
