CaliforniaLaw enforcement: masks.
What it does
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise, as specified, with the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification while committing a public offense, or for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction for any public offense.
More detail
This bill would make it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. The bill would define law enforcement officer as anyone designated by California law as a peace officer who is employed by a city, county, or other local agency, and any officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency or law enforcement agency of another state, or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency or agency of another state. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable as an infraction or a misdemeanor, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would require any law enforcement agency operating in California to, by July 1, 2026, maintain and publicly post a written policy limiting the use of facial coverings, as specified. The bill would exempt personnel of any agency from the crime of wearing a facial covering if an agency maintains a policy pursuant to this section no later than July 1, 2026. The bill would deem a policy consistent with these provisions for the purposes of that exception unless a member of the public, an oversight body, or a local governing authority challenges it. The bill would also impose a specified civil penalty against certain officers for tortious conduct, including, but not limited to, false imprisonment or false arrest of an individual while wearing a facial covering. The bill would, if the agency does not address deficiencies within 90 days, authorize the complaining party to proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction for a judicial determination of the exemption, as specified. The bill would define a law enforcement agency for these purposes as any entity of a city, county, or other local agency, that employs anyone designated by California law as a peace officer, any federal law enforcement agency, or any law enforcement agency of another state.
By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
This bill would declare its provisions to be severable.
This bill would make related findings and declarations.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 20Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Sep 20Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 17Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 11Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 28. Noes 11. Page 2936.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB627 Wiener et al. Concurrence Reconsider. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB627 Wiener et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB627 Wiener et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 11Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2935.)
- Sep 11Motion to reconsider made by Senator Wiener.
- Sep 11Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 2908.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Sep 11From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 2939.)Minor
- Sep 10From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 3. Noes 0. Page 2759.) Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Vote recorded SB 627 Wiener Senate Third Reading By Carrillo. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 10Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).Minor
- Sep 9In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Sep 9Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 45. Noes 23. Page 3120.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 5Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 5Read third time and amended.Major
- Sep 5Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
- Aug 25Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 20From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (August 20).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 17Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 16From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 15).Major
- Jul 15
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 9From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Major
- Jun 24From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Major
- Jun 19Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jun 16From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Major
- Jun 11June 18 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- May 29Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and H. & C.D.Minor
- May 8In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd. Result: pass.Upper
- May 8Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1050.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 1Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Apr 30From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 936.) (April 29).Minor
- Apr 29
- Vote recorded Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24Set for hearing April 29.
- Apr 3From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 637.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.Minor
- Apr 2
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Housing] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Set for hearing April 2.
- Mar 5Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and HOUSING.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
- Feb 20Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced