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By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

Virginia lawmakers are taking aim at masked officers, introducing a sweeping proposal that would make it illegal for most police — including federal agents — to hide their faces while on duty.

The measure, known as HB7, was pre-filed for the 2026 session and would create some of the strictest limits in the country on when law-enforcement officers can wear facial coverings.

Under the bill, officers would be barred from wearing anything that conceals their identity while performing official duties. The definition is broad. 

Ski masks, balaclavas, tactical masks, gators, and any opaque item that hides a significant portion of the face would be off-limits.

There are exceptions, but they’re narrow. 

Officers could still wear clear face shields, N95 or surgical masks, or gear needed to protect them from toxins, gas, smoke, weather hazards, or underwater conditions. 

Motorcycle helmets would still be permitted, while SWAT teams and tactical units would still be able to mask up while on duty.

Violating the rule wouldn’t just be a policy issue. 

HB7 makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor unless the officer’s agency has adopted its own facial-covering policy that aligns with the state’s standards. Discipline could include dismissal, demotion, suspension, transfer, or decertification.

The proposal also opens officers up to civil liability. 

A new state code section would allow anyone injured by an officer who “knowingly and intentionally” wears a prohibited mask to sue for damages. Victims could recover actual damages or at least ten thousand dollars, plus attorney fees and costs. The bill explicitly removes sovereign immunity, meaning officers would not be shielded from lawsuits.

The bill directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to create a statewide “model policy” that all agencies must adopt or mirror. Supervisors would be required to enforce it and prevent officers from wearing prohibited masks.

Virginia’s current anti-mask statute would be updated to defer to the new police-specific rules. Existing exceptions — such as holiday costumes, protective work gear, theatrical productions, medical needs, and public-health emergencies — would still apply.

Conservatives in Virginia were not pleased by the bill, calling it "another policy straight out of Crazy California." 

HB7 is awaiting committee referral as lawmakers prepare for the 2026 General Assembly session, where the proposal is expected to trigger heated debate.