California Penal Code

§ 185.5

PEN § 185.5 Effective Jan 1, 2026Title 7 · Part 1 · Ch. 8

Statute text

(a)A law enforcement officer shall not wear a facial covering that conceals or obscures their facial identity in the performance of their duties, except as expressly authorized in this section.

(b)(1) For purposes of this section, “facial covering” means any opaque mask, garment, helmet, headgear, or other item that conceals or obscures the facial identity of an individual, including, but not limited to, a balaclava, tactical mask, gator, ski mask, and any similar type of facial covering or face-shielding item.

(2)A “facial covering” does not include any of the following:

…

Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 125, Sec. 3. (SB 627) Effective January 1, 2026.