An Act prohibiting municipal bans of face coverings for protective or medical use

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Will Brownsberger and 3 co-sponsors

Preempts local bans on face coverings for medical or protective use in public spaces, blocking municipal and health rules at many venues.

House concurred

Overview

SD 245, titled “An Act prohibiting municipal bans of face coverings for protective or medical use,” is a proposed Massachusetts bill introduced February 27, 2025. The bill aims to prevent municipalities from enacting bans on wearing face coverings in public spaces for protective or medical purposes. The bill is sponsored by Senator William N. Brownsberger and was filed as Senate Number 1427. The House has concurred with the measure.

What the bill would do (Key Provisions)

Section 70 (Chapter 40): Adds a prohibition on local ordinances, by-laws, or policies that prohibit wearing face coverings for protective or medical use in any indoor or outdoor space open to the public. Examples listed include:

Publicly-owned facilities
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores
Public streets, parks, and public ways
Locations such as hotels, event venues, and private clubs that host indoor or outdoor events or performances

Section 31F (Chapter 111): Adds a similar prohibition on regulations adopted by boards of health prohibiting wearing face coverings for protective or medical use in the same broad set of spaces listed above.

In short, the bill would preempt local ordinances, policies, and health regulations that ban face coverings when used for protective or medical reasons in places open to the public.

Affected parties and scope

Affected entities:

Cities and towns (municipal governments)
Boards of health
Public facilities and spaces (e.g., schools, transit spaces, public venues) and many private spaces that host public events
Retail establishments and other locations open to the public

Practical effect: Local governments could not enforce or adopt bans on wearing face coverings for medical or protective purposes in the enumerated settings.

Procedural and timeline notes

Status: House concurred (as noted in the provided information).

Legislative actions:

Filed and referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (February 27, 2025)
House concurrence occurred on February 27, 2025

Origin: Senate petition from Senator Brownsberger, with several co-sponsors.

Potential implications and considerations

Public health and individual accommodations: The bill facilitates wearing face coverings for medical or protective reasons in a wide range of public spaces, potentially supporting individuals with health conditions or protective needs.

Local policymaking: It preempts local restrictions, limiting municipalities’ ability to tailor mask-related policies to local conditions.

Enforcement and compliance: Municipalities and health departments would be constrained in regulating face coverings in the specified environments.

Note: The text provided does not include an explicit effective date or definitions beyond the stated prohibitions.

Bill