Senate Judiciary debates narrow exceptions, ID rules in mask-and-disguise bill

The Senate Judiciary committee on Feb. 4 reviewed draft 2.1 (dated 01/30/2026) of a bill that would generally prohibit masks and disguises used to conceal identity but carve out exceptions for undercover investigations and certain task‑force work.

Legislative counsel Sophie Zagatny told the panel the draft adds law‑enforcement exceptions for officers "working with or in conjunction with the Vermont Drug Task Force" and proposes a three‑tier penalty scheme: a first civil offense of up to $1,000, a second offense of $2,500, and third or subsequent offenses classified as criminal. Zagatny also said the draft assigns the judicial bureau jurisdiction over civil violations tied to the bill's identification standards.

Committee members and law‑enforcement witnesses focused on two fault lines: how narrowly to craft exceptions so legitimate undercover work is preserved, and whether criminal penalties should be included. "Creating an…