Utah House waits to vote on mask mandates
Jan 19, 2022, 7:16 PM | Updated: 7:18 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah House of Representatives did not debate or vote Wednesday on a joint resolution that would terminate the mask mandates in Salt Lake and Summit counties, including the mask requirement for K-12 students in Salt Lake City.
On Tuesday, the first day of the 2022 legislative session, the Senate quickly passed Senate Joint Resolution 3 and sent it to the House for consideration.
But the resolution was not added to Wednesday’s agenda for the House.
“The House Majority Caucus is in widespread agreement that mask mandates are not the answer. However, we are still looking at the resolution and discussing a variety of options,” said a statement from Alexa Roberts, Communications Manager for the Utah House of Representatives.
Lawmakers in the House did take action on a separate, pandemic-related bill that would officially suspend the test-to-stay requirement for schools.
HB 183 passed on a vote of 57 to 17 and now goes to the Senate.
“There is a real urgency to let our districts and schools know what the approach that we’re going to have for test to stay is,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-District 42.
Last week, state leaders temporarily suspended test to stay protocols to alleviate the strain on schools and testing capacity.
Those in support of this bill said schools need the guidance now.
“I’m supportive of this bill because it allows the local entities to determine if they are needing a test-to-stay program, but it eliminates a statewide requirement for test-to-stay,” Rep. Melissa Ballard, R-District 20.
While those who voted against it said that lawmakers need to gather public input before passing the piece of legislation.
“There’s an education standing committee scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” said House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City. “This is something that’s important. I’d like to see the public have the opportunity to weigh in.”
Teuscher said while this bill had urgency, there would be time during the session to make other possible changes to the test-to-stay program with public input.
