Virginia Senate Bill SB1315

Virginia 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/23
• Refer: 1/10/23

Caption

Localities, public & private schools, higher educational institutions, & employers; face coverings.

Impact

The enactment of SB1315 will significantly affect how local governments and educational institutions can respond to health crises like COVID-19. By stripping localities and institutions of the ability to mandate face coverings, the bill reflects a shift towards state control over public health regulations. Advocates for the bill argue that it protects individual freedoms and promotes personal responsibility during the pandemic, while detractors raise concerns about public safety and the potential for increased transmission of diseases in schools and workplaces.

Summary

Senate Bill 1315 prohibits localities, public and private schools, higher educational institutions, and employers in Virginia from adopting, implementing, or enforcing any policies that require face coverings related to COVID-19. The law aims to limit the authority of these entities in mandating mask-wearing as a response to the pandemic. It specifically adds new sections to the Code of Virginia that clarify this prohibition, ensuring that no local or regional policies can impose such requirements, regardless of any existing state or local laws that would otherwise allow it.

Contention

The bill has sparked debate among legislators and community members regarding the balance between public health mandates and personal liberties. Critics of SB1315 argue that it may lead to increased risks as localities could be prevented from responding to spiking infection rates via mask mandates. Historically, public health laws have allowed for localized responses to health emergencies, so the bill may be viewed as a departure from established practices of local governance. Supporters, on the other hand, claim that the bill empowers citizens by removing what they see as unnecessary and potentially overreaching mandates imposed by local authorities.