A local lawmaker is among the few Democrats who voted against extending and codifying Governor Lamont's existing executive order that allows the public health and education commissioners to make statewide mask requirements in schools. 

Bethel Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan says he voted against the orders because administration officials have not identified which metrics would guide their decision to lift, or potentially reimpose, the school mask mandate.  While Allie-Brennan says he supports measures to protect kids and teachers, he wants oversight or clear rationale that can be explained to educators, parents, and students. 

With the availability and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, and school testing protocols, Allie-Brennan says it’s time to restore a sense of normalcy.  He says individual towns should be empowered to decide whether to impose their own school mask mandates — or no longer require one.  He added that ensuring public trust requires clear, substantiated reasoning behind every decision, noting that that's what the public deserves.

During debate several amendments were introduced to modify the bill. Because he  opposed the bill, Allie-Brennan voted against the amendments.