An effort to protect Iowa workers from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate passed the state Legislature Thursday with the support of lawmakers serving Webster County.

Iowa already provides exemptions from vaccines based on medical or religious reasons, according to state Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City.

”We already have the medical and religious exemptions,” he said. ”What I was told is that companies weren’t honoring the medical exemption.And when people asked for a religious exemption they were asked to fill out about six pages of paperwork, basically a religion essay, and they were still saying no. And I think that’s wrong.”

According to state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, the federal government has not passed a law that mandates that those shots be given for employment purposes. However, he said employers and employees are being ”bullied into doing this.”

”What we passed is a bill that requires every employer to acknowledge and accept our religious and health waivers,” he said.

He added that the bill makes anyone who gets fired because they did not get a vaccine immediately eligible for unemployment.

State Sen. Jesse Green, R-Harcourt, also voted for the bill.

”it’s just a temporary solution to a federal problem,” he said.