lawsuit

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and the nonprofit Florida Center for Government Accountability filed the lawsuit after the state denied public record requests seeking daily COVID data.

Alachua County Civil Circuit Judge Monica Brasington granted the temporary injunction against the COVID vaccine mandate two days after Monday’s hearing for the lawsuit.

An administrative law judge dismissed the case, noting he did not have any “wiggle room” with the new rule giving parents "sole discretion" on mask-wearing.

Parents can decide whether their children should quarantine if asymptomatic after COVID exposure to minimize time away from in-school learning. The change also tweaks the ban against mask mandates.

The deposition was sought by attorneys for school boards and parties challenging a Department of Health rule that requires parents to be able to “opt out” their children from mask mandates.

The judge said the plaintiffs - parents of children with disabilities - should have pursued administrative claims before the lawsuit, a requirement under a federal law.

Attorneys for a group of parents challenging the governor's executive order contend “immediate resolution” by the state's high court is needed because the school year is underway.

An administrative court has consolidated Leon's challenge and four similar cases by other districts and groups including the Florida State Conference of the NAACP. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24.

The Department of Education can resume efforts to impose financial penalties on the 13 school boards defying rules put in place by the governor's executive order.

The state claims the trial judge substituted his "own health policy preferences or risk assessments for those of the governor or, more importantly, the state health officer and surgeon general.”