The bill, which would raise penalties for someone who wears a mask while committing a crime, including arrested protesters, could still be altered as it heads back to the House.
Opponents fear the bill endangers those masking for safety while supporters claim it's necessary due to recent protests, including clashes at the University of North Carolina.
The legislation intends to further criminalize actions like blocking roads during protests, a response to recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the area.
The bill seeks to remove health exemptions for public mask-wearing, returning rules to pre-pandemic form, originally created in 1953 to limit Ku Klux Klan activity in North Carolina.
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