TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School Board voted 5-1 Tuesday to remove the medical exemption requirement from the district's mask mandate.

The change means that parents can now opt-out of the mandate without having to get a note from a doctor first.


What You Need To Know

  • Hillsborough School Board votes to remove medical exemption requirement from mask mandate

  • District officials were concerned with state funding if it didn't update requirements

  • CASE TRACKER: COVID-19 in Tampa Bay schools

The Board made the decision during its 4 p.m. meeting.

The district in August put a mask mandate in place that included a medical opt-out, which was in effect for 30 days before being extended to October 15.

District officials were concerned with pressure from Gov. Ron DeSantis that it could be stripped of state funding if it didn't change the requirements.

"We are financially not in the best condition to have any more taking away," said School Board Chair Lynn Gray. "So speaking for myself,  I feel like that was the only way we could save the district financially."