South Dakota Senate passes Noem’s vaccine mandate bill

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Senate Republicans are giving support to Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposal to allow employees to gain exemptions from their employer’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The bill drew just four opposition votes in the 35-member Senate. It will next go to the House. Noem is pushing for the bill to get two-thirds support from both chambers so that it can be enacted immediately. The proposal would allow employees to receive an exemption to their employer’s vaccine requirement by citing either a medical exemption certified by a medical professional, any religious grounds for refusal or a test showing antibodies against COVID-19 in the last six months.