Lang
10/29/21
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a vaccine mandate bill into law.
The governor’s office announced the signing Friday morning. It came less than 24 hours after legislators passed the bill, which requires businesses to allow employees to seek medical and religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates. It also guarantees that employees who are denied exemptions and are fired due to their decision not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for unemployment benefits.
Reynolds, who opposes mask and vaccine requirements, had called for legislative action on vaccine mandates. Republicans insisted the bill would help workers keep their jobs, but Democrats complained it would have no enforcement or penalties for companies that fire workers anyway. They supported it because it does guarantee workers unemployment.
The bill was passed while the Legislature was meeting to approve new maps for Iowa’s four Congressional districts. The new maps were also approved by the legislature on Thursday.