Overview
An anti-mask bill was filed at the Texas state level by Representative Tom Oliverson, who is in Cypress, Texas. Cypress is within the Houston area.
Contact Oliverson’s office via phone call, email, fax, or social media to communicate how strongly you oppose this proposal. The louder people are, the more likely they are to withdraw it.
Here is the Bill. When you call/email/comment, refer to it as H.B. 3061 (House Bill 3061).
Contacting Tom Oliverson (Contact Page)
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Call Script 1 - If someone answers the call
You: Hello, I would like to make a comment to Tom Oliverson about House Bill 3061. Staff member: Certainly. Please go ahead. You: I live in [city/zip code] I strongly oppose this bill because [sample reasons below]
AND [sample supporting arguments below]
Staff member: I will give your message to [elected official’s name]. Would you like for him/her to send a response to you? You: [Yes OR No]. Thank you for your time, good-bye. Staff Member: Thank you for your comments. Have a good day. |
Call Script 2 - If you are leaving a message
My name is [your full name], and I live at [address]. I’m calling to urge Tom Oliverson to withdraw House Bill 3061. I care about this because [sample reasons below]
AND [sample supporting arguments below]
Thank you for your time. Good bye. |
Resource 1 - A Call Script tool created by Jews for Mask Rights (heavily used to inform the above scripts!)
Resource 2 - A general call script for contacting elected officials
*Supporting evidence that feels most relevant to HB 3061
Email Script 1
(adapted from Action Network’s letter, sponsored by MaskTogetherAmerica)
SUBJECT: Withdraw House Bill 3061 I am a Texan living in [city of residence]. I strongly oppose House Bill 3061. Anti-mask legislation will greatly damage our country’s infection control against contagious diseases. Texans should not be barred from having the option to protect our health by wearing a mask. We need to normalize disease prevention, and calling to criminalize masks in our state will do the exact opposite. We cannot further stigmatize masks while COVID-19, H5N1, and other viruses remain threats. People have valid reasons to protect themselves, whether immunocompromised or not. A false narrative says that maskers are criminals hiding their identity. But masks that cover the nose and mouth actually do less to hide identity than sunglasses. Mask restrictions embolden authority figures and bullies to harass those who mask. This legislation will primarily be used against BIPOC, undocumented, and LGBTQ+ Texans. Anti-mask legislation infringes on our rights as citizens to use necessary precautions for our wellbeing. It is especially concerning for those with pre-existing conditions who rely on masks as essential protection from grave health risks. Even mild infection can lead to long term issues and disability. Everyone should have a right to protect themselves. No one should have to prove they are contagious, immunocompromised or disabled. Anti-mask legislation is discriminatory. Asking someone to unmask or justify using mitigation tools invades privacy. Being forced to remove your mask, even briefly, creates a chance to be infected. Lack of mitigation will lead to outbreaks of illnesses such as COVID, RSV, HMPV, H5N1, flu, measles and TB. The WHO and CDC stress masks’ effectiveness in reducing airborne illness spread. States with mask mandates decreased daily COVID-19 cases more than states without. Masking in 2020 even helped eradicate a flu strain. As a physician, I know you care about the health of Texans. That’s why I implore you to withdraw House Bill 3061, and start using common sense when it comes to supporting Texans in wearing high quality masks to avoid illness. |
Email Script 2
Subject: I Oppose House Bill 3061 I am a resident of [town/zip code here]. I urge Tom Oliverson to withdraw House Bill 3061. I strongly oppose this bill because I don’t want to be punished or harassed for wearing a mask. Masks are a protective medical tool. Stigmatizing them fuels violence and harassment. We cannot further stigmatize masks while COVID-19, H5N1, and other viruses remain threats. We deserve to protect ourselves, especially as the Trump administration undermines public health. No one should have to prove they are contagious, immunocompromised or disabled. No one should have to prove they are wearing a mask in public to protect their health and the health of those around them. And groups of people choosing to mask together should not be punished for making the choice to mask to mitigate the spread of contagious airborne illnesses in group settings. Anti-mask legislation is discriminatory. Asking someone to unmask or justify using mitigation tools invades privacy. Being forced to remove your mask, even briefly, creates a chance to be infected. I implore you to withdraw House Bill 3061, and start using common sense when it comes to supporting Texans in wearing high quality masks to avoid illness. |
Email Script 3
Subject: I Oppose House Bill 3061 I am a resident of [city/zip code] and I strongly oppose House Bill 3061 and am calling for its immediate withdrawal. I demand to know why Tom Oliverson has filed an anti-mask bill while we have a measles outbreak in the state of Texas. This bill will discourage Texans from masking to keep themselves safe during an active outbreak of measles in Texas. Masks are a protective medical tool. Stigmatizing them fuels violence and harassment. We cannot further stigmatize masks while COVID-19, H5N1, and now MEASLES are active threats in our state. Additionally, people should not receive increased sentences for wearing a medical device that helps prevent adverse health effects. Please provide a response explaining why Dr. Oliverson has chosen to introduce an anti-mask bill while there is an active measles outbreak in the state of Texas. As a medical doctor, I would expect him to understand that masks are a vital tool in protecting Texans and do his part to keep Texans safe. |
Email Script 4
Hello, My name is NAME (ZIP code:), and I’m calling to urge Tom Oliverson to withdraw House Bill 3061. I care about this because I regularly wear a mask and do not want to face harassment or punishment for masking. Now, I’m certainly not planning on committing any crimes while wearing a mask, but it’s easy to see how a mandatory minimum bill like this can be misapplied and put an unnecessary target on the back of a lot of people who wear kn95/N95 masks for personal health, safety, and privacy reasons. It makes protecting the health of myself and others riskier, which is the last thing we need with the current health landscape in Texas. Mandatory minimum bills like this don’t help deter crime. And HB 3061 in particular only paves the way for broader mask bans that would be an even bigger waste of state resources. Thank you for your time, |
PLEASE SHARE THIS DOCUMENT FAR AND WIDE!!!
Feel free to use the below text to introduce it:
Any folks who live in the state of Texas! A piece of anti-mask legislation (HB 3061) was introduced and we need to fight like hell to get it withdrawn asap. The following document has details about the bill and multiple scripts for calls and emails. Please feel free to share widely! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1704ui-FIcCqF97SX5uVnjP-Xi4A6m4WUXjce2ZonKEI/edit?usp=drivesdk