Overview
- Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s law restricting facial coverings for federal, state and local officers, and it took effect immediately under an emergency clause.
- The measure bars masks during public interactions with exceptions for undercover and tactical operations, religious reasons and medical use, and it lets people detained by masked officers sue for damages.
- The Department of Homeland Security called the law unconstitutional and said it will not abide by it, signaling an imminent legal clash over state authority.
- Virginia approved a related ban that can be charged as a misdemeanor with up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine unless an agency has its own policy governing face coverings.
- Oregon advanced similar legislation, and Democratic lawmakers in more than 30 states have introduced proposals, while Washington also created a new gross misdemeanor for police impersonation using fake badges or insignia.