State Senator Eric Lucero (St. Michael) joined more than 1,000 Minnesotans at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 8 in support of the Health and Parental Rights Rally. Families from across the state gathered in support of parental rights and medical freedom, and to oppose Democrat legislation attempting to repeal current law that permits conscientious exemptions to vaccine requirements for all Minnesota children, including homeschoolers and potential those with vaccine injuries.

Two bills moving through the Legislature are driving parents’ concern: SF 3439 would remove the conscientious objection exemption specifically for the MMR vaccine, and SF 4458 goes even further, banning conscientious exemptions for all vaccines for all children in Minnesota.

Under current state law, parents can opt their children out of required vaccinations by filing a notarized statement with the Minnesota Department of Health citing their conscientiously held beliefs. Both bills would eliminate that option, leaving only a physician-signed medical exemption, which can be challenging to obtain.

"Incredible energy and crowd at the Capitol rally in support of medical freedom and parental rights. The Capitol Rotunda was completely full,” Sen. Lucero said. “Democrats are pushing bills this year to strip every Minnesota parent of their right to conscientiously object to vaccine mandates. Medical freedom, informed consent, and parental authority are God-given rights, inherent to our Constitution that I will never stop fighting to protect.”