Attorney General Tong Statement on Dismissal of Challenge to Connecticut School Vaccine Requirements

09/14/2026

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement today regarding the dismissal of a state court challenge to Connecticut’s school vaccine requirements.

“Vaccines save lives. Today’s decision affirms what we have said since day one—Connecticut’s commonsense school vaccine requirements are lifesaving and lawful,” said Attorney General Tong.

Plaintiffs in this state court challenge, Spillane v. Lamont, had alleged that the elimination of the religious exemption violated the Connecticut and U.S. Constitutions and Connecticut’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act. The Connecticut Supreme Court in 2024 rejected all of plaintiffs’ claims under the Connecticut and U.S. Constitutions. The Supreme Court remanded to the Superior Court to review further the plaintiffs’ claims made pursuant to Connecticut’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act.

Connecticut law requires students receive certain immunizations before enrolling in school. Prior to 2021, students could apply for medical or religious exemptions to that requirement. P.A. 21-6 eliminated the religious exemption, while grandfathering students in kindergarten through grade twelve who had already received such exemptions.

Twitter: @AGWilliamTong

Facebook: CT Attorney General

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov

Consumer Inquiries:

860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov

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