Gov. Kim Reynolds said she 'strongly' opposes COVID-19 vaccine passports and is prepared to take action through the legislature or through executive order to prohibit their use.
These passports would prove someone has received a COVID-19 vaccine, which may allow them to travel or do other activities.
Other Republican governors, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have opposed the use of vaccine passports.
At a Wednesday press conference, Reynolds said she is working with legislative leadership on how to move forward.
"There's all kinds of questions that are really raised with moving in that direction, privacy implications, HIPAA, First and Fourth Amendment rights, Americans with Disability," she said.
"I think...what you're doing when you move forward with something like that is you're creating a two-tiered society."
The White House said earlier this week it will not require vaccine passports and will defer to private companies to decide if they want to require proof of vaccinations.
Reynolds says state will conduct investigations on Anamosa prison attacks
Reynolds said Wednesday that the Iowa Department of Corrections is creating a new "Director of Prison Security" position in response to an attack by inmates at the Anamosa State Penitentiary on March 23 that killed two staff members.
Reynolds said the state will also conduct internal and external investigations to find out what improvements can be made in the state’s prisons.
"So together we'll address any issues the investigations may reveal, and we'll do what's necessary to protect our people. Nothing, nothing is more important than that," she said.
Iowa House Republicans are proposing a budget increase of more than $20 million to the Department of Corrections.
However, union leaders representing the state’s corrections officers say that isn’t enough to provide safe working conditions.
