HB312 - "creates a criminal offense for the intentional concealment of identity in a public gathering"

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0312.html

created by ElectronicOffice9358 on 03/02/2025 at 13:51 UTC

318 upvotes, 25 top-level comments (showing 25)

I loathe Lisonbee; this isn't even the worst bill she's put up this year. Start masking at protests and call them masquerades.

Relevant bill text: 76-9-110. Intentional concealment of identity in a public gathering. (1)(a)As used in this section, "public place" means a place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, including: (i)streets or highways; and (ii)the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, public buildings, public facilities, transport facilities, and shops. (b)Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section. (2)An actor commits intentional concealment of identity in a public gathering if the actor, with intent to conceal the actor's identity: (a)wears a mask, or other facial obscurant or disguise; and (b)does so while congregating in a public place where other individuals are also masked, facially obscured, or disguised. (3)A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor. (4)This section does not apply to a Halloween activity or celebration, a masquerade party, or a similar activity or celebration.

Comments

Comment by VulgarWitchDoctor at 03/02/2025 at 15:45 UTC

242 upvotes, 4 direct replies

What are the Patriot Front and the KKK gonna do now? Or, is this gonna be one of those “selective enforcement” type deals?

Comment by marilynmonroeismygma at 03/02/2025 at 14:09 UTC

162 upvotes, 5 direct replies

God what is happening here

Comment by Objective_Remove8139 at 03/02/2025 at 15:43 UTC

49 upvotes, 2 direct replies

This is against the first and fifth amendments. This is an unamerican effort. This cannot pass

Comment by bike_bike at 03/02/2025 at 14:47 UTC

84 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Welcome to the age of masquerade party themed protests?

Comment by Enemby at 03/02/2025 at 15:31 UTC

72 upvotes, 1 direct replies

So no wearing masks when you've got a cold, okay. If someone else in the supermarket is also wearing a mask, you could be charged with a misdemeanor. what a terrible bill.

Comment by LOST-MY_HEAD at 03/02/2025 at 15:05 UTC

91 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Seems pretty anti freedom to me

Comment by hucksterme at 03/02/2025 at 15:33 UTC

50 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Lisonbee is dumb as rocks. Also, other states have similiar laws but I think they all read to state "concealment with intent to perform criminal activity". Lisonbee seems to have written this completley absent of the criminial activity intent which honestly seems like it would go against freedom of expression protections. I'm sure it will get re-written and passed though.

I will also re-post this every chance I get - Lisonbee on how woman can control intake of semen, hence sexual assault and unwanted pregnancies are partially on the woman. https://www.self.com/story/karianne-lisonbee-says-women-control-semen-intake-during-sex

Comment by MoroseBarnacle at 03/02/2025 at 16:05 UTC

22 upvotes, 1 direct replies

This will make it illegal to wear a mask in a hospital.

Immunocompromised people will be essentially under house arrest or they will die.

Oh, but Halloween's OK.

Comment by stonedbadger1718 at 03/02/2025 at 15:42 UTC

17 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Yeah that’s too much bullshit. These politicians don’t give a damn about the Patriot Front in Herriman. Because this is an anti American bill it’s our American duty not to follow it.

Comment by chosimba83 at 03/02/2025 at 16:13 UTC

15 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I hope the first group she targets are the Patriot Front who rallied Harriman the other day. I suspect that's not who she has in mind for this.

Comment by VoicesOfEcho at 03/02/2025 at 16:24 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Just a list of regular activities off the top of my head that this would/could interfere with-

Skiing, Dirt bike racing, Halloween, FanX or any convention where people dress up in costume, Wearing a mask when you're sick or immunocompromised, Wearing a scarf when it's cold, Paintballing, Welding, Anything requiring a respirator...

Comment by Ok_Imagination1262 at 03/02/2025 at 15:39 UTC

8 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Holy hell.

Comment by bob_scratchit at 03/02/2025 at 16:28 UTC

9 upvotes, 0 direct replies

How else can they use facial recognition to sweep you up in the dragnet after a protest.

Comment by MedusaTouchedMeHere at 03/02/2025 at 16:09 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Republicans don’t want freedom. They want control. And they now have it thanks to egg prices.

Comment by ActionCalhoun at 03/02/2025 at 16:41 UTC

7 upvotes, 2 direct replies

So when the Proud Boys come to town all masked up are the police going to do anything about it? Somehow I doubt it

Comment by lordxi at 03/02/2025 at 16:45 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Wait so those domestic terrorists who were parading in Herriman would be subject to the same rules right?

Right?

Comment by ThrowUpityUpNaway at 03/02/2025 at 16:50 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Who the fuck is voting for her?

Comment by MoroseBarnacle at 03/02/2025 at 17:11 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

This is the bill, by the way, for anyone interested: https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0312.html[1][2]

1: https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0312.html

2: https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0312.html

The part OP quotes starts at line 543.

Comment by therealbipNdip at 03/02/2025 at 16:27 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Land of the free.

Comment by Catsrules at 03/02/2025 at 16:53 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Well at least I can conceal my identity on Halloween.

What a dumb bill, it seems like it would make any face covering illegal. Do they know we live in cold weather climate? Do they know many religions require face coverings? Do they know you are required by law to wear face covering when riding a motorcycle?

It should be rewritten to have something along the lines of if you are committing a crime and hiding your identity.

There should be no reason why I can't conceal my identity in public if I am doing nothing wrong.

Comment by TopFlowe96 at 03/02/2025 at 16:07 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

So patriot pusses have to show their neck beards and pencil mustaches?

Comment by Select_Ad_976 at 03/02/2025 at 16:23 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Maybe I’m reading this wrong but it seems like it’s to prevent people from hiding identities when in large groups (like protests or places crimes might be committed) I didn’t take this is meaning medical masks since those aren’t use to conceal identity but for medical reasons right? Or is the wording the problem?

Comment by MyDishwasherLasagna at 03/02/2025 at 21:02 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Marriage equality protests are now marriage equality celebrations.

Trans rights protests are now trans lives celebrations.

Pro choice protests are now women's rights protests.

And so on

Comment by snowplowmom at 03/02/2025 at 14:17 UTC

-10 upvotes, 6 direct replies

Would you feel the same way if it were a rally by the KKK? Neo-Nazis calling for the ethnic cleansing of the US "By any means necessary"? People who were vandalizing your church, because they don't like the fact of your existence?

Comment by Dangerous_Donaldson at 03/02/2025 at 16:47 UTC

-4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Why don’t you want your face uncovered at a protest if it’s peaceful?

I understand why the KKK would want to cover their face (their beliefs are detestable), but if you’re peacefully protesting why do you feel the need to cover your face.

Side bar: this is a stupid law. We had years of mask mandates and now they want us to not be able to wear a mask? Moronic.