H237 revises public mask-wearing laws by removing the health and safety exemption and imposes harsher penalties for crimes committed while wearing a mask or concealing identity. It ensures religious institutions are not subjected to stricter emergency restrictions than other entities like businesses. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for obstructing roads or hindering emergency vehicles during demonstrations and allows civil liability for organizers of such events.
The North Carolina State Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on June 27, 2024 by a vote of 30 to 14. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this legislation is an important step toward preserving First Amendment-protected rights, protecting individual freedoms, and ensuring the restoration of law and order in local communities.