A bill that makes it easier for parents to opt their children out of school-required vaccinations is headed for Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after passing the Texas Senate 23-9 late Sunday

State Rep. Lacey Hull’s House Bill 1586 does nothing to change the childhood vaccine schedule. Instead, it would allow parents to download at home a form that allows children to be exempted from being vaccinated in order to attend public schools. Currently, parents have to contact the Texas Department of State of Health Services and request the exemption form be mailed to them

Hull and the two main groups supporting the bill – Texans for Vaccine Choice and Texans for Medical Freedom – tried to steer clear of the heated debate about vaccination requirements by emphasizing her bill was merely “about a form” and reducing the bureaucratic effort and cost surrounding that form