Relating to employee exemptions from employer-mandated vaccinations

Senate Bill 606 would allow private-sector employees in West Virginia to opt out of employer-mandated vaccinations based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Employees would need to provide a certificate stating their religious objection to their employer, and employers could not retaliate against them through penalties like withholding bonuses, pay raises, or promotions. The bill directly affects employees and employers in the private sector, establishing a specific religious exemption from vaccination requirements. It amends West Virginia's labor law to guarantee this right without requiring additional proof beyond the employee's certificate. This policy change creates a clear, legally protected exemption pathway for religious objections to workplace vaccination mandates.