School Mask Opt-Out Amendment Supported In Virginia Senate

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Senate passed an amendment Tuesday that would add a mask opt-out in Virginia K-12 public schools.

The amendment from Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) was on a bill introduced by Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) on requiring in-person instruction aside from 10 unscheduled virtual learning days. Petersen's amendment states the parent of any child in a public school or public school early childhood education program can choose for their child to not wear a mask at school. The amendment also states students should not face disciplinary or academic consequences due to the mask choice.

The amendment was supported 29-9 in the Democrat-controlled Senate. A "procedural vote" in the Senate is scheduled for Wednesday, as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. If approved, the bill would move to the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who had issued an executive order on optional mask wearing in schools, expressed support for Petersen's amendment. The governor indicated he would sign the bill.

"I applaud Senator Petersen’s amendment to give parents the right to decide whether their children should wear masks in schools," said Youngkin in a statement. "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 legislation comes after an Arlington judge issued a temporary injunction on enforcement of Youngkin's mask optional order. The temporary injunction was granted to seven school districts pursuing a lawsuit to continue their mask mandates despite Youngkin's order. A final decision in the case will come on a later date.

Peterson had proposed the amendment one day after writing a critical letter to Fairfax County Public School's superintendent on the school district's continued mask mandate. The state senator said in the letter he would seek special legislation from the governor or seek to amend existing legislation to end required masking for children.