Chap Petersen mask letter from 2/8 to FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True to his word, Chap has an ammendment to Dunnavant's new in-person law to remove mask mandates.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority, the parent of any child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, or in any school-based early childhood care and education program, may elect for such child to not wear a mask while on school property. A parent making such an election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status. No student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of this parental election.

(https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB739)

Bill has already made it to the Senate floor, past the D controlled education sub-committee. It does not have an emergency clause (which requires 2/3 vote to pass), so it will not go into effect until July. Like SB 1303 last year it may send a message about what should be done, though.

Unlike last year when Del. VanValkenberg changed SB 1303 and added all the loopholes, I don't see the House making this one weaker.

Senate approved the amendment.

Had enough votes it may go back with an emergency clause for immediate effectiveness. Stay tuned.

Whoah. Whoah. Whoah.

Vote was 29 to 9, or 76% in favor. More than the 2/3 needed to pass with an emergency clause. Haven't confirmed yet if it will move again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True to his word, Chap has an ammendment to Dunnavant's new in-person law to remove mask mandates.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority, the parent of any child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, or in any school-based early childhood care and education program, may elect for such child to not wear a mask while on school property. A parent making such an election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status. No student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of this parental election.

(https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB739)

Bill has already made it to the Senate floor, past the D controlled education sub-committee. It does not have an emergency clause (which requires 2/3 vote to pass), so it will not go into effect until July. Like SB 1303 last year it may send a message about what should be done, though.

Unlike last year when Del. VanValkenberg changed SB 1303 and added all the loopholes, I don't see the House making this one weaker.

Senate approved the amendment.

Had enough votes it may go back with an emergency clause for immediate effectiveness. Stay tuned.

Whoah. Whoah. Whoah.

Vote was 29 to 9, or 76% in favor. More than the 2/3 needed to pass with an emergency clause. Haven't confirmed yet if it will move again.

IIRC with SB 1303 they had the votes to pass it but many of those same people would not have voted yay with an emergency clause. It's possible it's the same here. The Ds want to walk a knife edge of not disturbing a still-Covid-cautious Democrat base now while keeping open "we unmasked your kids" for election season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True to his word, Chap has an ammendment to Dunnavant's new in-person law to remove mask mandates.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority, the parent of any child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, or in any school-based early childhood care and education program, may elect for such child to not wear a mask while on school property. A parent making such an election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status. No student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of this parental election.

(https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB739)

Bill has already made it to the Senate floor, past the D controlled education sub-committee. It does not have an emergency clause (which requires 2/3 vote to pass), so it will not go into effect until July. Like SB 1303 last year it may send a message about what should be done, though.

Unlike last year when Del. VanValkenberg changed SB 1303 and added all the loopholes, I don't see the House making this one weaker.

Senate approved the amendment.

Had enough votes it may go back with an emergency clause for immediate effectiveness. Stay tuned.

Whoah. Whoah. Whoah.

Vote was 29 to 9, or 76% in favor. More than the 2/3 needed to pass with an emergency clause. Haven't confirmed yet if it will move again.

There is a difference between voting to remove masks immediately, while the state is still at high community transmission and with no local control and voting to start next school year that way. There would be a significant NOVA backlash if it was now, no real warning, no health department input.. That’s a different vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True to his word, Chap has an ammendment to Dunnavant's new in-person law to remove mask mandates.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority, the parent of any child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, or in any school-based early childhood care and education program, may elect for such child to not wear a mask while on school property. A parent making such an election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status. No student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of this parental election.

(https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB739)

Bill has already made it to the Senate floor, past the D controlled education sub-committee. It does not have an emergency clause (which requires 2/3 vote to pass), so it will not go into effect until July. Like SB 1303 last year it may send a message about what should be done, though.

Unlike last year when Del. VanValkenberg changed SB 1303 and added all the loopholes, I don't see the House making this one weaker.

Senate approved the amendment.

Had enough votes it may go back with an emergency clause for immediate effectiveness. Stay tuned.

Whoah. Whoah. Whoah.

Vote was 29 to 9, or 76% in favor. More than the 2/3 needed to pass with an emergency clause. Haven't confirmed yet if it will move again.

I was just reading up on this, and it says 4/5. I've seen 2/3 elsewhere though. Which is right?

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title1/chapter2.1/section1-214/

[Anonymous]

SB 739 - Doesn't it still have to go through the House of Delegates? So that will probably take another couple of weeks, right?

[Anonymous]

Chap Peterson just made his play for governor in 2026. This is both a principled decision as a parent against the trends of his party AND a long game decision politically. He is very aware that it is better to be on this side of the issue. A cluster of new voters will graduate from high school and many of them will remember who force them to wear masks.

[Anonymous]

Many counties in southern VA have new case counts in the 150 /100k people range!

They definitely should NOT be unmasking in schools. Our state will never get out of this pandemic (or it'll take a lot longer).

Up here in Fairfax, we're the lowest -- with 37 new cases per 100k people.

That's a big range ---> 37 vs. 150 daily new cases per 100k people.

All this bill does is make it easier for the unvaccinated hillbillies to spread their disease. If the GA was smart, they'd at least set SOME standard for basic disease mitigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many counties in southern VA have new case counts in the 150 /100k people range!

They definitely should NOT be unmasking in schools. Our state will never get out of this pandemic (or it'll take a lot longer).

Up here in Fairfax, we're the lowest -- with 37 new cases per 100k people.

That's a big range ---> 37 vs. 150 daily new cases per 100k people.

All this bill does is make it easier for the unvaccinated hillbillies to spread their disease. If the GA was smart, they'd at least set SOME standard for basic disease mitigation.

You're assuming those "unvaccinated hillbillies" (judgemental much?) don't vote for senators and delegates too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SB 739 - Doesn't it still have to go through the House of Delegates? So that will probably take another couple of weeks, right?

Not sure about weeks, but yes. Then the governor signs. Then it goes into effect July 1.

I saw something saying as an amendment to existing law it goes into effect immediately, but I can't find that in the code of Virginia anywhere. Anyone else know?

[Anonymous]

Here's what happened in VA Beach when they made masks optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SB 739 - Doesn't it still have to go through the House of Delegates? So that will probably take another couple of weeks, right?

Not sure about weeks, but yes. Then the governor signs. Then it goes into effect July 1.

I saw something saying as an amendment to existing law it goes into effect immediately, but I can't find that in the code of Virginia anywhere. Anyone else know?

According to this, it's likely that it will be state law on February 21!!!

https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/amid-youngkins-court-fight-virginia-senate-moves-to-make-masks-optional-at-school/article_c4d01be9-6398-5a60-94c8-23336712f2df.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SB 739 - Doesn't it still have to go through the House of Delegates? So that will probably take another couple of weeks, right?

Not sure about weeks, but yes. Then the governor signs. Then it goes into effect July 1.

I saw something saying as an amendment to existing law it goes into effect immediately, but I can't find that in the code of Virginia anywhere. Anyone else know?

I keep hearing (second or third hand) from the folks advising on this that it'll be weeks, not months, but damned if I know the procedural requirements.

[Anonymous]

I think they will find a way to make it go into effect immediately. Masks are hugely unpopular notwithstanding the views on DCUM. People understand their utility in certain instances and with certain populations. But across the board for kids all day--those days are OVER! GO CHAP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chap Peterson just made his play for governor in 2026. This is both a principled decision as a parent against the trends of his party AND a long game decision politically. He is very aware that it is better to be on this side of the issue. A cluster of new voters will graduate from high school and many of them will remember who force them to wear masks.

IDK. I have a high school kid in W. Fairfax. Nobody want to be out of school for two weeks this spring with a positive test or risk schools going virtual due to an outbreak. Not when they have finally have a more normal HS experience. When spring plays and robotics and concerts and District Band/Orchestra and sports and APs and prom and graduation and college visits are on the line. And even if the kids wanted to unmask, I don’t know any parents who agreed. And if they did unmask and the HS was force virtual and some of these events were missed, hell hath no fury. Maybe I can’t read the room. And aim not close with many parents of ES kids anymore. But, the secondary level does not want this, maybe with the caveat of kids who have had Omicron.

Some Asian parents have elderly relative at home. But for most, there is the sense that we can finally have nearly normal spring activities— for most Hs kids for the first time— and no one wants to risk it, especially while cases are in the red.

Maybe I can’t read the room and 90% really secretly want to unmask. But, I don’t think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what happened in VA Beach when they made masks optional.

Stop posting Twitter posts and think. Did this happen because masks were removed or because Omicron subsided?