CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New legislation proposed by GOP state lawmakers would repeal the health and safety exemption from the state’s longstanding ban on mask-wearing in public.

The “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals” bill, introduced in a legislative committee as a substitute to an existing House bill, would remove an exemption to the ban on wearing masks in public, that currently allows mask-wearing “for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others.”

Sen. Buck Newton, a Wilson Republican, presented the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning during a discussion-only meeting. Newton told reporters after the committee adjourned that lawmakers wanted to address instances of people hiding their identities in public.

Newton said the bill is partially in response to recent demonstrations on college campuses across the state, where many protesters have been seen wearing masks. But he said that the protests aren’t the only reason lawmakers want to take action.

Penalties for masks during crimes

In addition to repealing the health and safety exemption, the bill would increase criminal penalties for people who wear masks to conceal their identity while committing another crime.

Under the bill, anyone who admits to having, or is found by a jury to have worn a mask to hide or attempt to hide their identity during the commission of another crime would face a misdemeanor or felony that is one class higher than the underlying offense they were convicted for.

The bill leaves in place a number of other exemptions, including provisions that allow public masking for people who are:

▪ Wearing “traditional holiday costumes in season;”

▪ “Engaged in trades and employment where a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the occupation, trade or profession;”

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