Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 9 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 543 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of masked intimidation; and imposing penalties.

Last action — Referred to JUDICIARY, April 4, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (9 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Protection from Masked Intimidation

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill creates the offense of masked intimidation in Pennsylvania law, defining specific acts that constitute the offense and establishing penalties.

  • Title 18

    § 5504.1. Masked intimidation. (a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of masked intimidation if the person intentionally harasses, intimidates or threatens any other person or group of persons while hiding or concealing the person's face with a mask or other article or device worn for the primary purpose of placing the other person or group of persons in reasonable fear for their physical safety. (b) Application.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a person wearing a mask or otherwise covering one's face for a purpose other than a purpose specified in subsection (a), in cases where the person is: (1) Wearing a mask or face covering on or near the occasion of a holiday, celebration or other event involving costumes. (2) Wearing a mask, hood, article or other device for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer or because of the nature of the person's occupation, trade or profession. (3) Wearing a mask, hood, article or other device for the purpose of protection from the weather elements or while participating in a winter sport. (4) Wearing a mask, hood, article or other device in an artistic or theatrical production or celebration. (5) Wearing a gas mask or other protective facial covering for the purpose of protection during or related to an emergency situation, or during emergency management drills. (6) Wearing a mask for the purpose of ensuring one's physical health and safety or the health and safety of others, including the limitation of the spread of airborne illnesses. (7) Wearing garb for religious purposes, so long as the person is not also wearing a mask or concealing the person's face for the primary purpose described in subsection (a). (c) Grading.--An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree. (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Harass." To engage in a knowing and willful pattern of conduct directed at a particular person or particular group of persons that is intended to cause that person or that group of persons to reasonably fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress. "Intimidate." To willfully and substantially interfere with, by threats, intimidation or coercion, the exercise or enjoyment by another person of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or the Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth, because of that person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability. "Threaten." To communicate a clear intention to cause imminent bodily harm to another person or group of persons.

    This section defines the crime of masked intimidation and outlines protections and exceptions.

Action History

  1. Referred to JUDICIARY, April 4, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 242 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (242)

242 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 543 do?
Protection from Masked Intimidation
Who sponsors SB 543?
SB 543 is sponsored by Doug Mastriano (Republican), Lisa M. Boscola (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), David G. Argall (Republican), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Cris Dush (Republican), Greg Rothman (Republican), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Joe Picozzi (Republican), and Frank A. Farry (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 543?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 04, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 543?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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