LEO Facial Coverings and Identifications.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1132

Short Title: LEO Facial Coverings and Identifications. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cervania, Harrison, Clark, and Greenfield (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 4, 2026
*H1132-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT L AW ENFORCEMENT OFFIC ERS FROM WEARING FAC IAL 2
COVERINGS AND TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLEARLY 3
IDENTIFIABLE. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. Chapter 17F of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 6
section to read: 7
"§ 17F-22. Regulation of facial coverings worn by law enforcement officers. 8
(a) Definitions. – As used in this section, the following definitions apply: 9
(1) Facial covering. – Any opaque mask, garment, or other item that conceals or 10
obscures the facial identity of the wearer, including a balaclava, tactical mask, 11
gator, ski mask, and any similar type of facial covering or face-shielding item. 12
This definition does not include any of the following: 13
a. A translucent face shield or clear mask that does not conceal the 14
wearer's facial identity. 15
b. An N95 medical mask or surgical mask to protect against transmission 16
of disease or infection or any other mask or device , including 17
air-purifying respirators, full or half masks, or self-contained breathing 18
apparatuses necessary to protect against exposure to any toxin, gas, 19
smoke, or any other hazardous environmental condition. 20
c. A helmet used to protect the wearer's head during transportation. 21
d. A head or face covering worn for religious purposes. 22
(2) Law enforcement officer. – An employee or agent of a State, local, or federal 23
government agency responsible for enforcement of State or federal laws. 24
(3) Undercover operation. – A planned act authorized by supervising agents, 25
agencies, or a court warrant that uses an undercover operative to intentionally 26
interact with a suspected criminal violator or others or to obtain evidence of 27
criminal activity. 28
(4) Undercover operative. – A law enforc ement officer using an assumed name 29
or cover identity to interact with non-law enforcement individuals or entities 30
to collect evidence of criminal activity. 31
(b) Prohibition. – Law enforcement officers shall not wear facial coverings in the 32
performance of their duties, subject to the exceptions in subsection (c) of this section. 33
(c) Exceptions. – The prohibition on wearing facial coverings does not apply to any of 34
the following: 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1132-First Edition
(1) Active undercover operations. 1
(2) Tactical operations where protective gear is required for physical safety. 2
(3) Protection of identity during prosecution. 3
(4) Situations in which applicable law governs occupational health and safety. 4
(5) Situations in which applicable law governs reasonable accommodations. 5
(d) Policy. – Any law enforcement agency operating in this State shall maintain, publicly 6
post, and enforce a written policy regarding the wearing of facial coverings as described in this 7
section. The policy shall include all of the following: 8
(1) A purpose statement affirming the agency 's commitment to all of the 9
following: 10
a. Transparency, accountability, and public trust. 11
b. Restricting the use of facial coverings to specific, clearly defined, and 12
limited circumstances. 13
c. The principle that generalized and undifferentiated fear and 14
apprehension about officer safety is not sufficient to justify the 15
wearing of facial coverings. 16
(2) A prohibition on wearing facial coverings for all law enforcement officers in 17
the performance of their duties. 18
(3) The list of exceptions described in subsection (c) of this section. 19
(e) Enforcement. – The Attorney General shall bring suit against any law enforcement 20
agency operating in this State that willfully or knowingly vio lates the requirements of this 21
section. 22
(f) Waiver of Privilege and Immunity. – Notwithstanding any other law, no law 23
enforcement officer who is found to have committed an assault, battery, false imprisonment, false 24
arrest, or malicious prosecution while wearing a facial covering in a willful or knowing violation 25
of this section may assert any privilege or immunity for such tortious conduct against a claim of 26
civil liability, except that an officer in compliance with the requirements of G.S. 17F-23(b) at the 27
time of the tortious conduct is not liable." 28
SECTION 2. Chapter 17F of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 29
section to read: 30
"§ 17F-23. Identification of law enforcement officers. 31
(a) Definition. – As used in this section, "law enforcement officer" has the same meaning 32
as in G.S. 17F-22. 33
(b) Agency Identification on Uniforms. – All law enforcement officers operating in this 34
State s hall wear clear and accurate identification of their agency on their uniforms. Such 35
identification may not be misrepresented. 36
(c) Identification upon Request. – All law enforcement officers operating in this State 37
shall identify themselves by name or badge number clearly and accurately upon any request." 38
SECTION 3. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, the 39
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect 40
without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end, the provisions of this act are 41
severable. 42
SECTION 4. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 43
Justice the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 44
2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to establish a training program and training materials regarding 45
the facial covering requirements of this act. 46
SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law. 47