Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, welcomed Senate passage Wednesday of an amended version of his bill to eliminate mask mandates.

“Liberty won, even with the amendments,” Hoverson said. “Citizens definitely were the ones that did it. They came many times. They emailed – more emails, more phone calls, more attendance, more rallies, more presence in the Capitol in the balcony, more applause, more respectful positioning than any bill this session.”

The Senate amended the bill to prohibit any statewide official or state health officer from issuing a mandate for face coverings while allowing local governments, school boards and employers to still exercise authority within their jurisdictions.

Hoverson said he was pleasantly surprised to see both the House and Senate overturn “do not pass” committee reports to approve the bill. The House now must sign off on the amendment to send the bill to Gov. Doug Burgum. Burgum had issued a temporary mask mandate that extended from mid-November to mid-January.

“We’re praying and hoping that he will sign it. I think it would be, politically, a pretty bad idea for him to veto that one,” Hoverson said. “We’re well into the thousands of people that are joining freedom groups that have just sprung up this past year.”

A week ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned executive orders and a mask mandate of Gov. Tony Evers, saying his orders failed to get needed legislative approval.

Legislation to prohibit state and local mask mandates also has been introduced in Idaho.

– Jill Schramm