At first, Hochul wanted to create a new crime of masked harassment, which would’ve applied if someone wore a mask for the purpose of menacing or threatening another person or group — which some Democratic lawmakers resisted, citing concerns about how, and against whom, it would be enforced. The new charge would be a class B misdemeanor and apply if someone wears a mask or covers their face with the intent of concealing their identity while committing a class A misdemeanor or felony or immediately fleeing the scene, according to state Sen. James Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat who helped negotiate the deal. The agreement on the new masking charge was one of the final hurdles lawmakers needed to clear to reach a final state budget agreement, which was originally due April 1.
Author: Jon Campbell
Published at: 2025-04-28 22:38:00
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