Fugate Responds to Legislation Limiting COVID-19 Requirements

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, released the following statement today following the House passage of Senate Bill 658.

Senate Bill 658 prohibits any school district, institution of Higher Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Board of Career and Technology Education from requiring vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of admittance to or attendance. Schools are also prohibited from requiring a vaccine passport as a condition of admittance or implementing a mask mandate for students that are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Today, we were asked to limit choices made by local school board members and the citizens who elect them,” Fugate said. “This legislation creates a barrier to local control that prevents locally elected school boards from being able to fully protect their students as they and their constituents see fit. This is a clear government overreach meant to strip away the personal freedom of Oklahomans wanting to protect their communities.

“We spent a lot of time this session ensuring parents had a ‘choice’ regarding their child’s education. With this legislation, we were asked to ignore all of that. 

“This bill is not about freedom. It isn’t about health or safety. It’s about imposing one’s personal choices on others. That’s the wrong choice for Oklahoma.”