Legislature overturns mask mandates in Salt Lake and Summit counties

The Utah House has followed a similar action in the Utah Senate and voted to overturn masking mandates issued in Salt Lake and Summit counties. The 45-29 vote on a joint resolution introduced in the Senate came largely along party lines and mirrored a Senate vote of 22-5.

Although the original mask mandate issued by Dr. Angela Dunn, head of the Salt Lake County Health Department, and endorsed by County Mayor Jenny Wilson was set to expire early in February and the Summit County order later in the month, the legislative action was seen to signal an intolerance for such orders by the Republican-controlled lawmaking bodies.

The House vote came several days after the Senate acted while lawmakers huddled with Gov. Spencer Cox to find a resolution — perhaps a mandate withdrawal by the two counties. When that didn’t happen, Senate leaders called for a vote.

The vote in the Senate was held under suspension of rules that typically require a public hearing. Because it was joint resolution, it did not need the governor’s signature and went into effect immediately after the Jan. 20 vote. The governor also did not have the power to veto it.

The Utah Legislature’s ability to overturn the local health orders stems from a law approved by the Utah Legislature last year that restricts executive and local powers to issue public health orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Dunn and Wilson expressed disappointment in the Legislature’s action and encouraged county residents to continue to wear good-quality masks.