Youngkin wants school mask mandates to end by March, House expected to vote on amendment

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Parents would be allowed to opt their children out of school mask mandates on March 1 if Virginia lawmakers approve an amendment Gov. Glenn Youngkin added to a bill the General Assembly has already passed.

SB739 requires local districts to have in-person instruction and would effectively end mask mandates in the state’s K-12 schools.

The Virginia House of Delegates voted along party lines to pass the measure Monday, nearly a week after three Democrats joined Republicans to advance the bill out of the Virginia Senate.

Gov. Youngkin backed up his promise to recommend an emergency clause to the measure so it could take effect immediately, adding a provision that would force local school boards to comply with the proposed law by March 1.

The amendment needs to get a simple majority in the General Assembly to be added to the bill. The measure would go into effect July 1 without Youngkin’s amendment.

The Republican-controlled House of Delegates is expected to vote on the amendment on Wednesday afternoon. Youngkin has planned a bill signing ceremony for SB739 for 3 p.m. Wednesday.