Bill
Bill > HF25
IA HF25
IA HF25A bill for an act relating to the commission of a criminal offense while wearing a mask, clothing, or device to conceal the identity of the wearer, and providing penalties.
summary
Introduced
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
In Committee
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to the commission of a criminal offense while wearing a mask, clothing, or device to conceal the identity of the wearer. The bill provides that a person who is convicted of a criminal offense who intentionally concealed or attempted to conceal the person’s identity by wearing a mask, or other clothing or device, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of the crime shall have the underlying criminal offense classified and punished as an offense one degree higher than the underlying offense. The bill exempts the following: a person wearing a traditional holiday costume in season; a person engaged in a trade or occupation for which a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the trade or occupation; a person using a mask in a theatrical production; a person wearing a gas mask prescribed in civil defense drills and exercises or emergencies; a person who is a member or member-elect of a society, order, or organization while engaged in any parade, ritual, initiation, ceremony, celebration, or requirement of such society, order, or organization and wearing or using any manner of costume, paraphernalia, disguise, facial makeup, hood, implement, or device, whether the identity of such person is concealed or not, on any public or private street, road, way, or property, or in any public or private building; a person wearing a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease or infection; or a person wearing a mask for the purpose of protecting the person’s head or face while operating a motorcycle.
AI Summary
This bill introduces a new legal provision that increases the severity of criminal penalties for individuals who intentionally conceal their identity while committing a crime. Specifically, if a person commits a criminal offense while wearing a mask, clothing, or device to hide their identity with the purpose of facilitating the crime, they will be punished one degree higher than the original offense. The bill includes several important exceptions to this rule, such as wearing holiday costumes, masks for workplace safety, theatrical performances, gas masks during civil defense drills, masks worn by members of organizations during official events (with municipal permission), medical masks to prevent disease spread, and masks used for protection while operating a motorcycle. These exceptions ensure that legitimate and reasonable uses of face coverings are not criminalized. The bill aims to deter individuals from using identity concealment as a means to commit crimes by introducing a more stringent penalty structure, while still maintaining reasonable allowances for various practical and cultural reasons for wearing masks.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
House Public Safety Committee (09:00:00 2/5/2025 RM 19) (on 02/05/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF25 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF25.html |
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