Legislators unanimously pause rule on religious exemptions for vaccinations at child care centers

Allowing religious exemptions from vaccination requirements at childcare centers was voted down again by legislators Thursday after the proposal was included in a new rule package from the state health department.

The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee voted unanimously to halt the implementation of a rule package, which included other largely agreed-upon health department updates, because of disagreements over the childcare rule.

“Go look at what an iron lung looks like, what Polio does to people,” said Sen. Chris Friedel, R-Billings. “That alone will make you reconsider when you have a conversation about religious exemptions.”