Tennessee mulls putting strict rules on school mask mandates

Newly approved legislation would mean Tennessee schools will have to jump through even more hoops if they want to implement mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee schools will have to jump through even more hoops if they want to implement mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under legislation recently approved by the state’s GOP-controlled General Assembly.

The strict new rules are part of a sweeping bill Republicans signed off on in the middle of the night over the weekend as they worked to undermine numerous COVID-19 protective measures.

Lawmakers were willing to back down on measures targeting private businesses after industry groups balked at mask requirement restrictions.

When advocates for public schools asked for similar leniency, lawmakers brushed off their pleas that mask mandates were necessary to protect children and teachers amid the virus outbreak and kept strict limits in the bill.