WA Senate’s Mask Ban Bill for Law Enforcement Clears Chamber on Party Line Vote
The Washington State Senate just passed SB 5855, a bill to bar law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing face-covering masks while interacting with the public, and now it heads to the House. Supporters say the move is about transparency and accountability at a time of heightened concern about masked federal enforcement.
The measure quickly became a point of contention in Olympia, with Democrats arguing it protects public trust and critics warning it could jeopardize officer safety and face legal hurdles.
SB 5855, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), passed the Senate 30-19 on a party-line vote Wednesday. The bill would prohibit opaque face coverings, such as balaclavas, tactical masks, gaiters and ski masks for local, state and federal law enforcement officers during public duties, while exempting undercover operatives and protective gear, medical masks, clear shields and helmets.
The bill also gives individuals detained by unlawfully masked officers the right to sue for damages, a provision aimed at enforcement accountability.
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“I appreciate the Legislature moving quickly on a bill to prohibit law enforcement from wearing face coverings so people know who is enforcing the law,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said after the vote.
The stakes extend beyond Washington, as similar laws in other states have faced challenges under the federal Constitution’s supremacy clause and concerns about law enforcement safety.
Next, the House must decide whether to pass SB 5855, with leaders indicating a floor vote could come in the next several weeks.
If approved there, it will go to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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