Overview

• On July 15, the Assembly Public Safety Committee approved amendments to SB627 requiring law enforcement to notify local authorities in advance of any operation involving masked officers.
• The revisions narrow safety exceptions to undercover assignments, protection against smoke or gas, and SWAT gear while mandating agencies adopt formal mask policies by July 1, 2026.
• The Peace Officers Research Association of California criticized the proposal as unfairly targeting local forces, and ICE leaders defended masks as vital protection against death threats and online harassment.
• Under the bill, officers who cover their faces during operations without fitting an exception could be charged with a misdemeanor.
• Constitutional lawyers forecast immediate federal court challenges under the supremacy clause over California’s authority to regulate federal agents’ conduct.