Virginia legislature makes bipartisan move to end school mask mandates

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A bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers moved to end mask mandates in the state’s schools as Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order doing the same faces multiple court challenges.

A group of 10 State Senate Democrats voted with Republicans for an amendment that would allow parents to opt their children out of masking in schools, a rule that aligns with the Youngkin order, which was signed on his first day in office last month.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“We needed to solve this ourselves. And we will,” Democratic State Rep. Chap Petersen told the Washington Post. “I don’t like executive orders. … We needed to act to end the mask wars.”

The measure amends a Republican-led bill aimed at requiring schools to teach in person, which will be up for a final vote Wednesday. The amendment was adopted on a 29-9 vote.

“We had a bipartisan coalition. We’ve talked about this for almost a month now, and this was the solution that we chose,” Peterson said in an interview with ABC 8News following the vote.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
(REUTERS/ Jonathan Ernst)

The legislation will now move to the state House, where a 52-48 GOP majority likely ensures passage.

Youngkin celebrated the vote in a statement Tuesday, indicating he planned on signing the legislation when it reaches his desk.

“In the last week, we have seen Democrat-led states like Oregon, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware move away from universal mask mandates in schools. I am pleased that there is bipartisan support for doing the same in Virginia,” the governor said. “This shows that when we work across the aisle, we put Virginians first. I look forward to signing this bill when it comes to my desk.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Several lawsuits are winding their way through the courts regarding the governor’s order and could be rendered moot by the bill.

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