VirginiaLaw-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty.
What it does
Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty. Prohibits any law-enforcement officer, defined in the bill, from wearing a facial covering, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of his official duties. The bill sets out several exceptions to such prohibition, including protective facial coverings to protect against disease, infection, and exposure to toxic substances and facial coverings worn by any law-enforcement officer assigned to a special weapons and tactics team while engaged in the performance of his official duties with such team.
More detail
The bill subjects the law-enforcement officer to disciplinary action, including dismissal, demotion, suspension, transfer, or decertification, and creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any law-enforcement officer who wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill unless the law-enforcement agency that employs such law-enforcement officer has adopted and established a written policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings. The bill also directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop a model policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings by law-enforcement officers. This bill is identical to SB 352.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 12Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1482ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Salim, Carroll Foy, Peake
- Vote recorded Insist & Request R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 12House Conferees: Schmidt, Simon, Wilt
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12House acceded to request
- Mar 12Senate requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 12Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 11Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 10Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 10Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- Mar 10Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Passed by for the day
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Mar 5Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5Rules suspended
- Mar 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108630D-S1Major
- Feb 25Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Senate committee offered
- Feb 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 12Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Feb 11Engrossed by House as amended
- Feb 11committee amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 11Read second timeMinor
- Feb 10Read first timeMinor
- Feb 6Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 1-N)
- Feb 6House subcommittee offered
- Jan 29Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Jan 28Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3Minor
- Jan 23Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 23Presented and ordered printed 26105678DIntroduced