Amendment added for religious exemptions for all students
Our Stand: At-A-Glance
- HB 5105 in its present form would allow virtual and private/parochial school children to be exempt from the vaccine requirement of §16-3-4 as long as they aren’t participating in WVSSAC sponsored athletics.
- During the second bill reading on the House floor, an amendment was proposed by Delegate Todd Kirby to add religious exemptions for all students. After lively discussion on the floor, this amendment PASSED. (A record of votes for this amendment can be found HERE.)
- What Does This Mean? The bill in its entirety still has to be voted on in the House (remember – it is only the amendment that passed, not the bill itself). A floor vote should occur after a third reading of the bill on Monday. Monday’s session is set to begin at 10am. Tune in by going to the WV Legislature’s website. Listen for bills on third reading.
- The last time a religious exemption bill was given the opportunity to have a floor vote in WV was in 2003. You can look at the history of the code HERE. This is monumental.
- WHAT CAN YOU DO? Take action here and tell your Delegate to support the passage of HB 5105.
- If you’ve already written and called once before, please do so again. Remember to be kind – whether they are for us or not, they are all working long hours. The opposition is coming out in full force against this bill and the legislators need to hear from all of us. Please spread the word to friends and family and have them contact House members as well.
- Also, if you have a moment to reach out and thank all of the Delegates who voted yes to the amendment yesterday, they would be grateful to hear from you. Delegates Kirby, Pinson, Steele, Pritt, Worrell, Foggin, Green, Ridenour and Akers actually stood up to speak in favor of the bill. A huge thanks to them!
- If this bill passes the House on Monday, we will have to go through the same process all over again in the Senate. Stay tuned!