HB7
Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, civil liability.
Status:
In House
Latest Action:
Jan. 19, 2026
House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB7)
Chief Patron:
Michael Jones (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; civil liability; penalty.
Prohibits certain state and federal law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of their 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 ... (More) 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. 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 11/20/2025 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101899D
- 11/20/2025 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 01/19/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB7)
