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SB352Introduced in the Senate

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

Passed

Introduced by Saddam Salim, District 37

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 HB 1482.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)

May 20, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

8 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100635D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

  6. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)

  7. Committee substitute printed 26107147D-S1

  8. Rules suspended

  9. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  10. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  11. Read second time

  12. Courts of Justice Amendments rejected

  13. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  14. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  15. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read first time

  19. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  20. Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  21. Committee substitute printed 26108862D-H1

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)

  23. Read second time

  24. Read third time

  25. committee substitute agreed to

  26. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  27. Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)

  28. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  29. House insisted on substitute

  30. House requested conference committee

  31. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  32. Conferees appointed by Senate

  33. Senate Conferees: Salim, Carroll Foy, Peake

  34. Conferees appointed by House

  35. House Conferees: Schmidt, Simon, Wilt

  36. Conference Report released

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

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

  39. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)

  40. Enrolled

  41. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB352ER)

  42. Signed by President

  43. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  46. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352)

  47. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  48. Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  49. Communicated to Governor

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

  51. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1132 (effective 7/1/2026)

  52. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)

  53. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)

  54. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)

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