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Laws Passed After COVID-19 Pandemic Prevent Mask Mandates In Arizona

State lawmaker tells constituents 'If you don't want to wear a mask, don't wear one'

Published: August 25, 2023
  |   By Adrian Norman
Laws Passed After COVID-19 Pandemic Prevent Mask Mandates In Arizona

Multiple universities and businesses across the U.S. have reinstated mask mandates as fears over a new COVID-19 variant are hyped throughout legacy media networks and by federal officials.


The pivot back to pandemic-era policies follows widespread speculation that the Biden administration is working behind the scenes to reintroduce a cornucopia of lockdown measures.



However, in many places, efforts to enact forced masking policies will face strong headwinds as state and local lawmakers have put policies into place to limit the ability of public officials to require or coerce individuals to wear face masks against their will.


Following the 2020 pandemic, Arizona lawmakers passed multiple such bills, as State Sen. Janae Shamp outlines in a press release her office distributed, reminding state residents they are protected from government efforts to force mask wearing.


"With election season upon us, we're once again witnessing COVID-19 fearmongering from the Left as liberal entities in Georgia, New York and California are now once again overstepping their authority in dictating mask mandates," Shamp said in the release. "As a registered nurse who has been detrimentally impacted by government infringement not based on scientific evidence, I want you to rest assured that I will fight tooth and nail to make sure you're protected from this gross overreach.”


Among the state statues she lists that govern pandemic-related policies:


  • A.R.S. 44-7951 (passed in 2021) was enacted to protect businesses in Arizona from being required to enforce a mask mandate established by state, city, county and town governments, or any other jurisdiction within Arizona.

  • A.R.S. 1-611 (passed in 2022) was enacted to protect students under the age of 18 at public district or charter schools from being required to wear a mask without the express consent of the child's parent or guardian.

  • A.R.S 36-681 (passed in 2022) was enacted to protect the public from forced masking at any government building or premises, except where long-standing workplace safety and infection control measures that are unrelated to COVID-19 may be required.

  • Additionally, if the governor implements a state of emergency for "public health" reasons, A.R.S 26-303 (enacted in 2022) would require the governor to first get permission from the state legislature in order to extend the emergency past 120 days.


“If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you don't want to wear a mask, don't wear one,” Stamp added. “This is a personal choice that our citizens are allowed to make.”

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