Governor Kristi Noem is issuing an executive order to prevent a state requirement for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
The executive order is designed to shoot down so-called “vaccine passports.”
It also prevents the state from requiring COVID vaccines for private businesses.
Noem’s executive order suggests local governments follow suit.
However, if a local government or business wants to require vaccinations, Governor Noem says they can.
“So, local control will still stay there,” Noem says. “We don’t make any assumption as to telling what businesses can and can’t do. Here in South Dakota we really do believe that owners and those operators of businesses have the right to make some determinations. The executive order does not extend into their jurisdiction.”
Noem’s executive order comes on the heels of national talks about a vaccine passport program.
