Mask Transparency Act

On August 14th, 2024, the “Mask Transparency Act” went into effect. This act makes it illegal to wear a face mask or face covering in public. If convicted of this crime, you can face up to 1-year incarceration and a $1,000 fine. However, there are exceptions such as health, safety, or religious/cultural reasons. The legislative intent behind is act was to protect public safety by preventing individuals from publicly hiding their identities.

This Act has received great criticism that a class action lawsuit challenging the law is underway. Since the act went into effect in 2024, there have been some changes. The amendment is called “masked harassment.” This means, you can legally wear a face mask in public unless you intend to menace or threaten others, putting others in reason fear while intending to hide your identity.