Governor Kim Reynolds will sign a bill that outlines how workers may claim a religious or medical exemption from a private employer’s Covid vaccination mandate, without a doctor or cleric signing off on the document.

The bill that passed the House and Senate yesterday with bipartisan support also says workers are eligible for unemployment if they’re fired for failing to get vaccinated. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says it’s a partial answer to looming federal vaccination mandates.

Business groups say the bill puts Iowa businesses in the terrible position of trying to figure out if they must follow state or federal regulations when it comes to Covid vaccinations among employees.

Last week the governor said she may join a lawsuit challenging federal Covid vaccine mandates.