STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ
District 33 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Venezia and Stewart
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing mask or disguise while interacting with public.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning law enforcement officers and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” means a member of any federal, State, county or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons violating the laws of this State or of the United States.
b. Except as provided in subsection c. of this section, a law enforcement officer shall not wear a mask or disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer’s official duties.
c. Subsection b. of this section shall not be applicable to a law enforcement officer who is:
(1) engaged in an undercover assignment;
(2) wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer’s face to protect the officer’s face from harm;
(3) wearing a medical grade mask or N95 respirator designed to prevent the transmission of disease and has obtained a statement from a licensed physician that the mask or respirator is necessary to protect the health of the officer; or
(4) wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency.
d. A law enforcement officer who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the wearing of any mask or disguise by a law enforcement officer while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer’s official duties.
The bill’s provisions are not applicable to a law enforcement officer who is: engaged in an undercover assignment; wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer’s face to protect the officer’s face from harm; wearing a medical grade mask or N95 respirator to prevent disease if the officer has obtained a statement from a licensed physician; or wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency.
A law enforcement officer who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months imprisonment, or both.
The bill defines a “law enforcement officer” as a member of any federal, State, county or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, or detention of persons violating the laws of this State or of the United States.