Senator Will Brownsberger, Democrat from Boston, introduced Bill SD.245 on January 9, 2025, which, if passed, would prohibit municipalities and boards of health from enacting mask bans that include banning “protective or medical use” of wearing masks in public.
No city or town shall enact an ordinance or by-law, or establish any policy, that prohibits the wearing of face coverings for protective or medical use in any indoor or outdoor space open to the public including, but not limited to: Any publicly-owned facility; Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores; Public streets, parks, and ways; and Any location, including hotels, event venues, and private clubs, that hosts indoor or outdoor events or performances. (…)
If you live in Massachusetts, you can find your state level representatives and write to them stating that you support of Bill SD.245 to protect the ability to mask in public. It can help if you have a personal detail to share about why this is important to you, and perhaps include a statement about how health exemptions won’t be sufficient.
If you live anywhere else, you can find your own representatives, and write to your state representatives referencing the Massachusetts state bill SD.245 and say you want similar legislation where you live, protecting your ability to use masks in public, and perhaps include your reason. Remember, representatives care about what their own constituents think, and even if your representative is anti-mask, they might be swayed from putting up a fight about it if they hear from enough constituents willing to pipe up and actually make a stink about it.
My letter to state level elected representatives (state rep, state senator, and governor):
I am appalled at the news of mask bans popping up in various places. I ought to have a right to protect myself from the elements: viruses, pollen, pollution, wildfire smoke, or cold, by wearing a mask. Health exceptions are not sufficient because having to carry papers or explain medical status is Un-American. Massachusetts Senator Brownsberger introduced bill SD.245 on January 9th 2025, which would prohibit municipalities from making laws that would stop people using protective & medical masks. We need this in our state at a minimum.
Please feel free to copy-paste or repurpose the contents of my letter for your own letters to reps.
Feel free also to take talking points from my rejected and unpublished letter to the editor.
Remember to bookmark/favorite the contact webpages of all your representatives, including state and county level elected officials, for easy reference.