ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1743

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1743.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill establishes the “Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act.”

      Under the amended bill, law enforcement officers operating in this State, including federal officers, are required to reveal their facial identities when interacting with the public while performing official duties.  An officer is exempt from this requirement when the officer is: engaged in an undercover assignment or other tactical operation, including violent-crime or organized-crime suppression; the subject of a threat of retaliation resulting from the performance of the officer’s official duties; 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 designed to prevent the transmission of disease; wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency; wearing a mask designed to protect against exposure to cold during a weather emergency; or wearing a mask to protect against exposure to biological or chemical agents during an incident where these agents may be present.

      The amended bill also requires officers to present sufficient identification prior to detaining or arresting a person.  Under the amended bill, an officer is deemed to have provided sufficient identification if the officer, prior to detaining or arresting an individual, is: (1) dressed in a department-issued uniform bearing the agency insignia; (2) demonstrates a department-issued identification card bearing the officer’s photograph and identifying information; (3) demonstrates a badge, tag, label, or other department-issued identification which identifies the officer by number; or (4) verbally discloses, in a clear and audible manner, the officer’s name and the official name of the agency employing the officer.  The identification requirement would not apply when: (1) the release of sufficient identification may compromise the integrity of an authorized investigation; (2) a supervisor determines that stealth is necessary; or (3)  an officer reasonably believes the officer’s personal safety is at risk.

      Additionally, the provisions of the amended bill do not prevent a law enforcement officer in plain clothes or operating an unmarked vehicle from intervening in urgent matters of public safety.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      1)  provide an exemption to the requirement that a law enforcement officer reveal their facial identity when the officer is: engaged in certain tactical operations; the subject of a threat of retaliation; wearing a mask designed to protect against exposure to cold during a weather emergency; or wearing a mask to protect against exposure to biological or chemical agents; and

      2) remove the requirement that an officer needs a doctor’s statement before wearing a medical-grade mask or N95 respirator to prevent the transmission of diseases.