Overview

• On July 15, the Assembly Public Safety Committee approved SB 627 and added a requirement for state and local agencies to prohibit face coverings by July 1, 2026.
• The bill bans all state, local and federal officers from covering their faces during official operations and makes noncompliance a misdemeanor, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT and smoke or gas protection.
• The Peace Officers Research Association of California and other law enforcement groups argue the measure misdirects punishment at local agencies and could strip officers of vital protective gear.
• ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons has defended agents’ use of masks, saying they are necessary to shield officers and their families from threats and harassment.
• Attorney General Rob Bonta has endorsed a related federal bill by Senators Alex Padilla and Cory Booker and legal experts foresee an immediate challenge under the supremacy clause.