Overview
- U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder granted a preliminary injunction against SB 627, finding the mask ban discriminates by exempting state officers in violation of the Supremacy Clause.
- The court’s order is stayed for 10 days to allow an appeal, while the separate SB 805 identification requirement now takes effect for federal, state and local officers with undercover exceptions.
- State Sen. Scott Wiener said he will introduce a revised, across-the-board mask prohibition that includes state law enforcement to address the constitutional flaw.
- The Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the decision and signaled further legal action, citing rising doxxing, threats and assaults against federal agents.
- Snyder wrote that federal officers can perform their duties without masks, and the case arises after masked ICE operations and protests that have prompted similar legislative efforts elsewhere.