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Senate health committee backs bill to codify legal right to wear health masks in public
Summary
AB 1326 would affirm an individual's legal right to wear masks in public spaces to protect health and reduce exposure to airborne disease and poor air quality; public‑health witnesses and several senators supported the measure and the committee passed the bill to judiciary/appropriations as recorded.
An assemblymember presented AB 1326 to the Senate Committee on Health to establish a legal right for individuals to wear masks in public spaces for health protection, including protection from airborne disease and poor air quality.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, deputy health officer for Solano County appearing for the Health Officers Association of California, testified in strong support and said that many Californians wear masks to protect themselves or family members with deficient immune systems, to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke and to stay healthy while working in frontline jobs. "This bill doesn't change public health rules or impose any order or requirement other than to respect our needs," he said.
Committee members asked about mask types and the author said she would continue to work with Senate Judiciary to clarify protections for different health mask types (for example, surgical masks and N95 respirators versus cloth face coverings). Senator Weber Pearson and Senator Weiner voiced support and urged clarification on effective mask types; Senator Rubio also said he supported the right while urging further work on the bill’s scope and language.
The committee moved to pass the bill as presented and refer it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary; Senator Wiener moved the motion. The roll-call vote recorded the bill out of the committee with a vote count recorded in the transcript as 8 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions.
Ending: Supporters said AB 1326 would protect vulnerable Californians who rely on masks as a preventive health measure; the author and committee members said they will continue to refine the bill’s language on protected mask types in subsequent committees.
