(Radio Iowa) – A federal appeals court has upheld a 2021 state law that bans schools from issuing mask mandates. A group of families filed a federal lawsuit, arguing Iowa schools must allowed to require masking to protect their children who have disabilities that make them vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the families do not have legal standing to sue the state. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a written statement after the ruling. Reynolds said while children were the least vulnerable, they paid the highest price for COVID lock-downs and mandates in other states and she would sign a mask ban for Iowa schools again if she has to.