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 HB 1482.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 12Governor's recommendation received by SenateLatest
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)
- 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 Senate and House (SB352ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)
- 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 12House Conferees: Schmidt, Simon, Wilt
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 10Senate Conferees: Salim, Carroll Foy, Peake
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 10Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 9House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 9House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 6House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 4Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 4committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Read second timeMinor
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108862D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 12Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 12Read first timeMinor
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar
- Feb 9Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Feb 6Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 6Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- Feb 6Courts of Justice Amendments rejectedMinor
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 5Committee substitute printed 26107147D-S1Major
- Feb 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Senate committee offered
- Jan 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100635DIntroduced