The Associated Press has conducted a thorough investigation into the proliferation of anti-science legislation in statehouses across the United States. The analysis encompassed more than 1,000 bills introduced in various states, focusing on key issues such as vaccines, fluoride, and raw, unpasteurized milk.
Utilizing the bill-tracking software Plural and a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures, reporters identified and scrutinized these bills for any language that could undermine scientifically supported health protections. The investigation specifically targeted legislation that had received action in 2025, excluding broad budget bills and general insurance coverage proposals.
Among the anti-vaccine bills highlighted by the AP were those designed to:
- Facilitate obtaining vaccine exemptions.
- Add regulatory hurdles related to vaccination programs and health services.
- Restrict access to vaccines or compromise community vaccination rates.
- Ban specific vaccines.
- Increase liability associated with vaccines.
- Undermine existing vaccine mandates.
- Offer protections to unvaccinated individuals against discrimination.
- Weaken vaccine infrastructure.
Additionally, the AP classified other legislation as anti-science, which aimed to:
- Ease the purchase and consumption of raw milk.
- Prohibit fluoride in drinking water or make fluoridation more difficult.
- Transfer fluoridation decisions from public officials to voters.
The investigation also examined national advocacy groups linked to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., documenting the bills these organizations supported or opposed, as well as their justifications.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute”s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. However, the AP maintains full responsibility for all the content produced in this investigation.
