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SB 1MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Maryland Restricts Law Enforcement Face Coverings and Requires Visible Officer Identification

Original title: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Face Coverings and Identification

Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 612Sponsors: Malcolm Augustine and 17 others

Companion · HB 155same policy, House version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Maryland law enforcement officers are prohibited from wearing opaque face coverings while on duty, starting October 1, 2026, except during specified tactical, medical, or weather emergencies. Officers must also display clear agency identification and badge numbers on their outermost layer of clothing and verbally disclose their identity upon request.

Why it matters

The measure establishes civil fines up to $2,000 and misdemeanor classification for face-covering violations, directly altering accountability standards and operational uniform requirements for all sworn police personnel across state, county, and municipal agencies.

Background

Senate Bill 1 was enacted by the Maryland General Assembly and approved by Governor Wes Moore, modifying state public safety laws regarding police conduct and accountability. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Law enforcement officers

Must comply with new restrictions on face coverings and mandatory identification display requirements while on duty, facing civil fines, misdemeanor penalties, and misconduct charges for violations.

Directly affected

Law enforcement agencies

Must adopt uniform policies consistent with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission guidelines and forward citations to the District Court.

Directly affected

Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission

Required to develop model uniform policies governing face coverings and worn identification for all state law enforcement agencies.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What items are considered prohibited face coverings for police officers?

Any opaque mask, garment, helmet, headgear, or other item that conceals or obscures the face, including balaclavas, ski masks, neck gaiters, and tactical masks.

Are there any exceptions where an officer is allowed to wear a face covering?

Yes, exceptions include translucent face shields, medical-grade or surgical masks, protective gear for hazardous toxins or underwater use, motorcycle helmets, religious garments, protective gear during tactical operations, and items worn for weather protection or occupational health and safety.

What information must be displayed on an officer's identification?

The identification must show the law enforcement officer's agency or department, last name, and badge number or other identification number.

What are the penalties if a law enforcement officer violates the face covering ban?

An officer who violates the rule is guilty of a and upon conviction is subject to a fine up to $2,000, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, or both, as well as a waiver of civil immunity in related civil actions.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

24 actions

May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 612
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Enrolled
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Third Reading Passed (32-13)
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Concurs House Amendments
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (31-13)
Apr 13, 2026HouseFloor
Third Reading Passed (100-37)

Show 18 earlier actions

Apr 13, 2026HouseFloor
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Apr 13, 2026House
Favorable with Amendments { 443923/1 Adopted
Apr 11, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
Mar 26, 2026House
Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred Judiciary
Feb 3, 2026SenateFloor
Third Reading Passed (31-13)
Jan 29, 2026SenateFloor
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 723726/1 (Senator McKay) Rejected (18-28)
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 703926/1 (Senator McKay) Rejected (14-31)
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 773627/1 (Senator McKay) Rejected (12-32)
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 633420/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (14-32)
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 273521/1 (Senator West) Rejected
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 873724/1 (Senator West) Rejected (14-30)
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 123226/1 Adopted
Jan 28, 2026SenateCommittee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Jan 13, 2026Senate
Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m.
Sep 15, 2025SenateIntroduced
Pre-filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Statewide Standardization of Police Uniform Rules

The legislation strips local counties and municipalities of authority to set their own policies on face coverings and identification, centralizing rules through the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.

Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission

Connected Entities

Shelly Hettleman, Ben Kramer, Sara Love and 11 more

PersonShelly Hettleman“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonBen Kramer“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonSara Love“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

OrganizationMaryland Police Training and Standards Commission“Tasked with developing model uniform policies for face coverings and officer ide”Map →

PersonMalcolm Augustine“Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

OrganizationDistrict Court“Handles civil citations and trials related to violations.”Map →

locationMaryland“Jurisdiction where the law applies.”Map →

PersonPam Beidle“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonBen Brooks“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonNancy King“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonGuy Guzzone“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonBill Ferguson“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonCheryl Kagan“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

PersonBrian Feldman“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 1.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy75
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz60
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

What This Bill Does

Who It Affects

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history

Lobbying Activity

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Statewide Standardization of Police Uniform Rules

Connected Entities

Sources

Analysis Score

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