Virginia bill would ban most law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while on duty

“A newly introduced bill for Virginia’s 2026 legislative session would prohibit most law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while performing official duties,” 13NewsNow reported. The bill defines “facial covering” broadly — including opaque masks, balaclavas, tactical or ski masks, gaiters or any item concealing a substantial portion of the face — and bans them unless one of several narrow exceptions applies.

Under HB 7, officers who violate the prohibition could face serious consequences. The bill authorizes disciplinary action (including dismissal, suspension, demotion, transfer, or decertification), establishes a Class 1 misdemeanor for unauthorized face-covering use (unless the employing agency has a written policy allowing it), and enables civil lawsuits — allowing a person injured by misconduct of an officer knowingly wearing a prohibited covering to sue for damages, with sovereign immunity waived.

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