On Friday, July 30th 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed Executive Order 21-175, making it impossible for local governments or school boards to enforce mandatory face masks for the prevention of COVID-19 in public schools.

We are one week away from the start of school in most Florida counties, and simultaneously, Florida is experiencing a record-breaking number of hospitalizations:  10,207 people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.   In the past week, Florida has averaged 1,525 adult hospitalizations and 35 pediatric hospitalizations per day, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Governor DeSantis' executive order is an governmental overreach, crippling decision-making of local governing agencies and school boards.  I am calling on the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives to exercise legislative oversight by nullifying Executive Order 21-175.

Sources:  

1) https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/legislative-oversight-of-executive-orders.aspx

2) https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-covid-hospitalizations-florida-20210801-gory6e3slrbrxdzycu6g4cehfm-story.html