Senate approves bill requiring parental consent for minors to receive HPV vaccine

The Iowa Senate on April 7, 2025, passed Senate File 304, which requires parental consent before a minor can receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The roll call recorded 33 ayes and 14 nays.

Sponsor Senator Jason Salmon (R‑Bremer) said the measure aligns the HPV vaccine with the state’s other childhood immunization rules, which require parental consent for minors. “This bill does not prohibit administering or access to HPV vaccine for minors,” Salmon said in closing remarks. “Every other vaccine required under Iowa code maintains parental consent when given to a minor. This vaccine should not be the one exception to parental consent.”

Opponents argued the change could reduce access to a cancer‑preventing vaccine for adolescents and survivors of abuse. Senator Zachary Peterson (D‑Polk), who floor managed an earlier related bill when in the House, said the vaccine has lowered cancer rates and that the bill “puts kids at risk” by assuming every child is raised in a safe environment and by failing to include exceptions for cases where a parent may be the abuser.

Sponsor’s closing: Salmon said the bill is narrowly tailored to require parents be involved for vaccines that prevent sexually transmitted infections and that other legal remedies related to assault and abuse remain in force. He described the change as ensuring parents are “in the room to discuss this and give consent prior to administration.”

Procedure: The senator moved final passage; the secretary recorded 33 ayes and 14 nays and the bill was declared passed and immediately messaged.