Kemp to Sign Unmask Georgia Students Bill This Afternoon

Governor Brian Kemp is scheduled to sign the Unmask Georgia Students Act this afternoon at the North Wing of the State Capitol.

Senate Bill 514, also known as the “Unmask Georgia Students Act”, passed the state House 93-52 on Friday.

The UnMask Georgia Students Act gives parents the right to decide whether their students should have to wear a mask in class if their public school has a mask mandate in place.

In a statement in February when the bill was first introduced, Governor Kemp said parents know how best to care for their children, and that includes when it comes to masking.

He said the ‘Unmask Georgia Students Act’ ensures parents have the final say.

Opponents of the bill, however, say the new law severely weakens the effectiveness of school safety measures and threatens to unnecessarily endanger students and school faculty at schools across the state.

Both the Franklin County and Hart County school systems have a mask-optional policy for students.