Overview

• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a five-bill package that includes SB 627, a first-in-the-nation law barring most law enforcement from concealing their faces, with exceptions for undercover work, medical masks and tactical gear.
• The mask ban takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and does not apply to state police or the California Highway Patrol, while other measures take effect immediately.
• New rules require officers operating in California to display a name or badge number, restrict immigration enforcement in nonpublic areas of schools and health facilities to instances with a judicial warrant, and mandate school notifications when agents are on campus.
• The Department of Homeland Security condemned the legislation and urged a veto, and Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal agencies will continue operations and protect agents’ identities, signaling likely litigation over enforceability.
• Police unions and some law enforcement advisers argue the state cannot regulate federal conduct and warn the mask ban will mostly affect local officers, though violations could trigger criminal or civil penalties.