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HB1482Introduced in the House of Delegates

Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty.

Passed

Introduced by Charlie Schmidt, District 77

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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. 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 SB 352.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1131)

May 20, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026

62

Yes

35

No

2

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Presented and ordered printed 26105678D

  2. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  3. Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 1-N)

  7. Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)

  8. Read first time

  9. Read second time

  10. committee amendments agreed to

  11. Engrossed by House as amended

  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)

  13. Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

  14. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  15. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  16. Senate committee offered

  17. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  18. Committee substitute printed 26108630D-S1

  19. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)

  20. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  21. Rules suspended

  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  25. Passed by for the day

  26. Read third time

  27. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  28. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  29. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  30. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 99-N 0-A)

  31. Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  32. Senate requested conference committee

  33. House acceded to request

  34. Conferees appointed by House

  35. House Conferees: Schmidt, Simon, Wilt

  36. Conferees appointed by Senate

  37. Senate Conferees: Salim, Carroll Foy, Peake

  38. Conference Report released

  39. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  40. Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

  41. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)

  42. Enrolled

  43. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1482ER)

  44. Signed by President

  45. Signed by Speaker

  46. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  47. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  48. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)

  49. Governor's recommendation received by House

  50. Passed by for the day

  51. Passed by for the day

  52. Communicated to Governor

  53. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  54. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1131 (effective 7/1/2026)

  55. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1131)

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