Workplace Vaccine Exemption Bills Sent to Arkansas Governor

Arkansas legislation aimed at softening workplace mandates for Covid-19 vaccines is headed to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s desk after winning passage from the state House and Senate.

Companion bills SB 739 and HB 1977 would require employers that mandate Covid-19 shots to also let their employees opt out by either testing negative for the virus weekly or demonstrating immunity through antibody tests taken twice per year. The bills would bar employers from firing any worker over Covid-19 mandates if they comply with the testing requirements, and they would make workers who are fired in violation of these rules eligible for unemployment ...