Youngkin Signs Bill Banning School Mask Mandates in Virginia
Mask wearing in Virginia schools is now optional after Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a law that bans mandates. “Children have not only suffered learning loss. They’ve suffered relationship loss,” Youngkin said on…
Mask wearing in Virginia schools is now optional after Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a law that bans mandates.
“Children have not only suffered learning loss. They’ve suffered relationship loss,” Youngkin said on Wednesday. “And now’s our chance to give all parents the rights to make decisions that we know they have.”
He continued, “Today, we are re-establishing and restoring power back to parents. But we are also re-establishing our expectations that we will get back to normal. And this is the path.”
“And now we’re going to do a little work,” Youngkin added as he sat down to sign the legislation.
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The bill, Senate Bill 739, also states that schools must be open for in-person instruction five days a week.
The House of Delegates provided final passage for the bill on a party-line vote on Monday. It was passed by the state Senate last week and won the support of three Democratic lawmakers.
Youngkin made some changes to the bill, such as a clause that allows it to go into effect immediately. Both chambers approved the changes this week.