Wave of anti-science bills pushed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allies hits statehouses

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  Science and Technology on Tue, Oct 21st, 2025 by Associated Press

A Surge of Anti‑Science Bills Sweeps State Legislatures, Backed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Allies

A new wave of legislation that targets public health, medical research, and climate science is sweeping across statehouses in the United States, according to an AP video report released on Tuesday. The bills, which have already found the floor in 15 states, are championed by a coalition of conservative lawmakers, anti‑science groups, and the outspoken anti‑vaccination activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies. The legislative push seeks to roll back decades of progress in public health, to deny the science of climate change, and to grant unprecedented immunity to those who challenge evidence‑based medicine.

What the Bills Cover

The legislation is broad in scope but follows a recognizable pattern: it seeks to limit or outright ban public health interventions that are considered “unnecessary” or “unproven” by the scientific community. Key areas of focus include:

• Vaccines – Several bills would prohibit the use of vaccines in children, require parents to sign waivers before vaccinating, or ban school immunization mandates altogether. In Texas, for example, a bill would eliminate the state’s mandate that all children attend school only if they are vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases. A similar proposal in Ohio would strip the state of the authority to enforce vaccine mandates in schools, making it up to local districts to decide whether to require shots.

• COVID‑19 Testing and Contact Tracing – Bills in Idaho and Louisiana would prohibit state and local agencies from providing or funding COVID‑19 testing, while a proposal in Oklahoma would outlaw mandatory contact tracing for employees in public settings. The Florida Senate introduced a measure that would prohibit any public health authority from mandating COVID‑19 testing for employees in a workplace, a move that would undermine current efforts to keep employees safe.

• Climate‑Change Policy – A bill in Arkansas would prohibit the use of any data that indicates that climate change is real or that it is driven by human activity. In Montana, lawmakers proposed legislation that would block the state from issuing any policy that addresses climate change, effectively stifling the state’s ability to regulate greenhouse‑gas emissions or invest in renewable energy.

• Public Health Funding – A bipartisan bill in Kentucky would restrict the use of state funds for the expansion of Medicaid services that cover mental health or substance‑abuse treatment. The proposed legislation could result in a significant reduction in care for patients who rely on Medicaid for their health‑care coverage.

Who Is Driving the Movement

The AP video highlights how a coalition of activists and political allies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been working to push these bills onto the ballot. Kennedy, a former lawyer and high‑profile anti‑vaccination advocate, has been a vocal supporter of the “science‑skeptics” movement, frequently sharing misleading claims about vaccine safety on social media and in public events. The coalition is said to include members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative lobbying group that drafts model legislation for state lawmakers. In many states, the bill proposals have been drafted by ALEC or its affiliates, with the wording designed to give the appearance of scientific scrutiny while in reality it serves to roll back established public health measures.

In Texas, for example, a group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would have eliminated the state’s vaccine mandate for schoolchildren. The bill was backed by a number of anti‑vaccination donors who pledged significant financial support to the campaign. In Idaho, lawmakers introduced a COVID‑testing ban that was backed by a coalition of evangelical churches that have been vocal opponents of mask mandates and testing. The AP piece also reports that several senators and representatives have publicly praised Kennedy for his “commitment to personal freedom” and his “bold stance against the medical establishment.”

Public Health and Scientific Community Response

Health experts and scientific bodies have voiced strong concerns about the potential ramifications of these bills. Dr. Katherine S. Nelson, a leading infectious‑disease specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that “banning COVID‑19 testing will undermine our ability to trace and isolate infections, ultimately prolonging the pandemic.” The American Medical Association has called the anti‑science bills “a threat to public safety” and urged state legislatures to reject them. A joint statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association criticized the bills for undermining school immunization programs and for ignoring the overwhelming evidence of vaccine safety.

Legal experts have noted that some of the proposed bills may face constitutional challenges. A lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Ohio is already arguing that Ohio’s proposed vaccine‑waiver law violates the state constitution’s guarantee of public health protections. Similarly, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a brief in a federal court in Arkansas, contending that the state’s climate‑change data ban violates the First Amendment by restricting access to scientific information.

The Broader Political Context

The wave of anti‑science legislation is part of a broader shift in American politics, where public health and environmental policy have become increasingly polarized. While Republicans and some conservative Democrats have been slow to respond to the urgent needs of the public‑health crisis, the rise of the “anti‑science” coalition has created a legislative environment that is hostile to evidence‑based policy. In 2024, more than 200 state lawmakers reportedly signed on to “science‑skeptical” bills, and the trend is expected to continue into 2025.

The AP video also points out that the push is not limited to the United States. Similar anti‑science bills have been proposed in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, where lawmakers have called for stricter controls on scientific research funding and have introduced legislation that limits the use of data related to climate change.

Looking Ahead

Statehouse committees are expected to consider these bills over the next several months. The public and scientific communities will continue to lobby against the proposed legislation, but the momentum from Kennedy’s allies remains strong. Whether the wave of anti‑science bills will ultimately succeed in reaching law‑making status remains to be seen, but the potential damage to public health, scientific integrity, and environmental stewardship is already a cause for concern.