INDIANAPOLIS — A Republican Indiana State Senator wants to make wearing masks at “public assemblies” illegal, with some exceptions.
Senate Bill 286, introduced by Sen. Gary Byrne, (R-Byrneville), defines a public assembly as a gathering of at least ten people where the general public is allowed to attend.
In the bill, Byrne defines a mask as a cover that obscures or is worn over a person’s nose or mouth. It does not include masks or coverings for:
- holiday costumes
- theater costumes
- religious coverings
- coverings for occupational safety
- medical purposes, if prescribed by a physician
- helmet for motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, rollerskates, etc.
- athletic equipment
- equipment worn by emergency medical workers
Under SB 286, anyone who wears a mask at a public assembly could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. If it is a repeated offense, it would be a Class A misdemeanor under the new law.
The bill also adds to a previous section of Indiana law, making it a Level 6 felony if a person wears a mask while participating in an unlawful and disruptive assembly.
Sen. Byrne could not be reached after repeated attempts for comment on this story.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.
