Arizona state health officials cannot mandate students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school after state lawmakers passed legislation banning the requirement and Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) signed it into law.
In addition to the legislation barring a COVID-19 vaccine being placed on the list of required school inoculations, Ducey signed a separate bill on Friday preventing state health officials from implementing face mask mandates in state or local government buildings, including libraries and courthouses.
The bills follow other COVID-19 legislation signed by Ducey in April that blocked government agencies from requiring proof of vaccination for employment and enforcing face masks for students outside parental choice.
Ducey’s office did not issue a comment related to the two COVID-19 bills. However, the governor did praise his state’s lawmakers for passing a bill requiring K-12 schools to include instruction about the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“The events on September 11, 2001 shaped a generation and forever changed America,” Ducey said in a statement. “The tragic events that unfolded that morning bound us together and altered how we view the world. We have an obligation to teach our children about the events and ideas that made us who we are as a nation. On that day, we faced an attack on who we are and what we stand for: democracy, liberty and freedom. We’re going to ensure future generations of Arizonans never forget how those values were defended on September 11, 2001.”
In total, Ducey signed 20 bills into law on Friday. Other legislation included parental classroom visitation rights and election integrity measures.