Stamford – On Monday, a Superior Court judge in Stamford dismissed the last remaining claim in the long‑running lawsuit challenging Connecticut’s ban on religious exemptions for school vaccinations. The decision closes the case that began in 2022 when two mothers from Orange and Greenwich argued that the law violated both state and federal constitutions, as well as Connecticut’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
Legal background and court rulings
The case, Spillane v. Lamont, reached the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2024, which dismissed five of the six claims but sent the RFRA‑related claim back to the Superior Court for further review. After more than four years of litigation, the judge’s dismissal on Monday marks the final resolution.
State officials defend the law
Attorney General William Tong praised the ruling, stating, “Vaccines save lives. Today’s decision affirms what we have said since day one — Connecticut’s commonsense school vaccine requirements are lifesaving and lawful.” The administration highlighted that the law is designed to protect public health and prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Legislative action and Republican criticism
In 2021, the Connecticut legislature voted to eliminate religious exemptions for school vaccines, joining only four other states with a similar stance. After the lawsuit was filed, Democratic lawmakers added a clarification to a broader vaccine bill, creating a specific carve‑out in the state’s RFRA to ensure the law would withstand constitutional scrutiny.
House Speaker Matt Ritter (D‑Hartford) explained that the amendment was intended to make clear that “in 2021 we meant what we said, which is there’s no religious exemption available for vaccines.” Republicans, however, decried the move as an erosion of religious liberty. Public Health Committee Ranking Member Nicole Klarides‑Ditria (R‑Seymour) warned, “If we can suspend religious liberty protections for vaccines here today, what rights are we going to carve out for tomorrow?”
Public‑health perspective
Senator Saud Anwar (D‑South Windsor), co‑chair of the Public Health Committee, said the dismissal helps ensure Connecticut families are not forced to face outbreaks of preventable diseases. He added, “Amid rapidly changing federal vaccine standards casting confusion and doubt on the effective, life‑saving tool that has helped reduce disease in our communities for decades, it is reassuring to know Connecticut’s standards will remain in place, keeping our children and communities better protected.”
What this means for Connecticut families
With the legal challenge resolved, schools across the state will continue to enforce vaccination requirements without offering a religious exemption. Parents who oppose the mandate on religious grounds must now seek alternative schooling options, such as private or homeschooling, if they wish to avoid vaccinating their children.
The decision underscores the balance Connecticut seeks between protecting public health and respecting religious freedom, a balance the state believes is justified by the compelling government interest in preventing disease spread.
Broader context
According to a September 2026 analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Connecticut is one of only five states that does not provide a religious exemption for school vaccine requirements. The ruling reaffirms the state’s position among the most stringent in the nation regarding school immunization policies.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
