# Plain Language Summary: National Informed Consent Exemption (NICE) Act

This bill would prohibit the federal government and any state or local government receiving federal funding from requiring people to get vaccinated without their explicit written consent. The core requirement is that before anyone can be required to take a vaccine, they must receive written information about all known potential risks, consult with a doctor, and then voluntarily agree to it. The bill also prevents any organization receiving federal money from discriminating against unvaccinated people by denying them access to jobs, schools, travel, housing, welfare benefits, courts, or medical care. It would ban vaccine passports or any documentation requirement proving vaccination status.

The bill creates what it calls the "NICE" exemption—a blanket opt-out from vaccination requirements that anyone can use for any reason, with no conditions or explanations needed. For children, at least one parent or guardian must consent, and the other parent must receive three days' notice before vaccination. If someone believes they've been harmed by a vaccine mandate or given false information to convince them to get vaccinated, they could sue for damages, including punitive damages and attorney's fees.

There are narrow exceptions: the bill would still allow vaccination requirements for people in prison or institutions, court-ordered vaccinations in individual cases, and emergency situations if the President personally approves them. For emergencies to qualify, the government would need to prove that following normal procedures is impractical, that the vaccine won't harm national security, and that serious side effects occur in fewer than 1 in 200,000 people.

The bill also requires the Surgeon General to create an independent commission of 30 doctors and scientists (with no ties to vaccine manufacturers) to evaluate vaccine safety by comparing completely unvaccinated people to vaccinated people. This commission would produce a public report by July 2026 comparing vaccines to alternative treatments for the same diseases.

National Informed Consent Exemption (NICE) Act

Gohmert, Louie

National Informed Consent Exemption (NICE) Act This bill restricts the federal government and federally funded entities from mandating that U.S. citizens receive a vaccination or a test for an infectious disease in order to participate in federal programs or activities such as travel. It also specifies that laws, regulations, or policies that discriminate on the basis of a citizen's vaccination status are unenforceable, subject to limited exceptions. The bill establishes a national vaccination exemption that may be exercised by any individual, including on behalf of the individual's children or dependents. Further, the bill prohibits vaccinating a child without the consent of each parent or guardian. One parent or guardian may consent if the other parent or guardian received, at least three days prior, written notice of the child's vaccination appointment. The bill's provisions do not apply (1) to lawfully incarcerated or institutionalized individuals, (2) to a specific individual subject to an individualized court order that meets due process protections, or (3) during declared emergencies if the jurisdiction's governing authority formally applies to the President for an exception to the national vaccination exemption that meets specified standards. An aggrieved individual may enforce the bill through a private right of action. Additionally, an entity that provides false information to influence an individual's decision about receiving a vaccine shall be liable for damages resulting from the vaccination. The Surgeon General must establish an independent commission to evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.