Many of Georgia’s 180 school districts never had a mask mandate, and of those that did, almost all have dropped them since January as cases of COVID-19 have fallen, although some still encourage mask wearing.
The measures are cornerstones of the Georgia version of a nationwide Republican reaction against requirements stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, with supporters saying parental and individual choice should rule as many run for reelection.
A number of Republican-controlled states banned mask and vaccine mandates last year, part of a broad conservative backlash against mandates meant to prevent the spread of the respiratory illness. Georgia lawmakers did not act last year, but the GOP-controlled General Assembly has been more amenable to the measures in this election year. That impulse animated the House’s 99-67 passage of Senate Bill 345 on Tuesday.
“If this proposal becomes law, there will be some Georgians, perhaps even in your own district, that will surely die that would have otherwise lived if we required vaccinations,” said Rep. Billy Mitchell, a Stone Mountain Democrat who spoke on the House floor against banning governmental vaccine requirements.
Democrats said Republicans are pandering to anti-vaccine rhetoric and setting the precedent to weaken other vaccine requirements for public schools and colleges.
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