SB 2595 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while concealing identity with a mask or other headgear.

SB 2595 would create a new criminal offense in Texas for intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening someone in a public place while wearing a mask or headgear to conceal your identity. This offense would be classified as a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. The bill includes seven specific exceptions where mask-wearing is permitted, such as for holidays (e.g., Halloween), occupational safety, weather protection, theatrical events, emergencies, health reasons, or religious practices. These exceptions mean the law does not apply when masks are worn for these permitted purposes.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · May 6, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted from a draft introduction version to an official engrossed version with minor wording adjustments. The core policy content remains unchanged, including the creation of a new criminal offense for harassing, intimidating, or threatening others while concealing identity with a mask or headgear.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the changes are primarily formatting and text cleanup.
TECHNICAL

Header information updated from draft introduction format to official engrossed version format with bill number and sponsor information.

Minor wording adjustments including changing 'person' to 'persons' in several instances and changing 'defense' to 'affirmative defense' in subsection (d).

Removed formatting artifacts and placeholder text that were present in the draft version.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025

How they voted

246
Passed
Total votes 30
May 6, 2025
D Democratic10
4 Yea 6 Nay
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
13
Committee
16
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
lower
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors