law enforcement; face coverings; prohibition..

HB2977 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
law enforcement; face coverings; prohibition..

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2977

Introduced by

Representatives
Hernandez A: Cavero, Contreras L, Contreras P, Garcia, Gutierrez, Hernandez
C, Hernandez L, Luna-N�jera, M�rquez, Simacek, Travers, Tsosie

AN
ACT

Amending title 38, chapter 8, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 38-1121; relating to law
enforcement officers.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 38, chapter 8, article 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 38-1121, to read:

START_STATUTE
38-1121.

Law enforcement officers; face coverings; law enforcement agency;
policy; applicability; definitions

A. A law enforcement officer may not
wear a facial COVERING that conceals or obscures the law enforcement officer's
face while on duty.

B. A law enforcement agency in this
state shall maintain and publicly post on its website a policy regarding the
use of facial coverings by the law enforcement agency's officers that includes
both of the following:

1. A purpose statement that affirms
the law enforcement agency's commitment to Transparency, accountability and
public trust and that Restricts the use of facial coverings to specific and
limited circumstances.

2. that sworn law ENFORCEMENT
officers may not use a facial covering when performing their duties, except for
either of the following:

(
a
) Active
undercover operations or assignments that are authorized by the agency or a
court order.

(
b
) Tactical
operations where protective gear is required for physical safety.

C. This section does not apply to an
officer assigned to special weapons and tactics team units while ACTIVELY
performing the officer's RESPONSIBILITIES.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Facial covering":

(
a
) means any
of the following an opaque mask, garment, helmet, headgear or other item that
conceals or obscures the facial identity of an individual, including a
balaclava, tactical mask, gator or ski mask or any similar type of facial
covering or face-shielding item.

(
b
) Does not
include:

(
i
) A
translucent face shield or clear mask that does not conceal the law enforcement
officer's facial identity.

(
ii
) A medical
mask or surgical mask that is used to protect against the transmission of
disease or infection.

(
iii
) any other
mask, helmet or device, including air purifying respirators, full or half masks
or a self-contained breathing apparatus, that is necessary to protect against
exposure to any toxin, gas, smoke, inclement weather or other hazardous or
harmful environmental condition.

(
iv
) A mask,
helmet or device, including a self-contained breathing apparatus, that is
necessary for underwater use.

(
v
) a motorcycle helmet when worn by a law enforcement
officer using a motorcycle or other vehicle that requires a helmet for safe
operations WHILE ON duty.

(
vi
) Eyewear that is necessary to protect from the use of
retinal weapons or lasers.

2. "Law enforcement
agency":

(
a
) means a municipal
police department, a county sheriff's office, a publicly funded law enforcement
department and the department of public safety.

(
b
) includes
any federal law enforcement officer or agent who has the power to make arrests
pursuant to federal law.
END_STATUTE