South Dakota’s governor has unveiled a legislative proposal that would prevent employers from denying medical and religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, provided certain criteria are met. The proposed legislation (pdf) says an employee seeking a medical exemption must get a certificate signed by a doctor in South Dakota attesting that the worker “has a medical contraindication or compelling medical reason that advises against the COVID-19 immunization.” Under the bill, it would be easier to get a religious exemption. A person would merely need to submit a signed statement that says they “dissent and object to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds, which includes moral or ethical beliefs or principles but not social, political, or economic philosophies or mere preference.” Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, also included a carve-out for workers who have recovered from COVID-19, giving them some level of protection against the illness. Any employee who provides …