Assembly Bill A8943

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits state and federal law enforcement acting within New York from covering their faces or otherwise concealing their identity, except in certain circumstances

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2025-A8943 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §190.90, Pen L

2025-A8943 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits state and federal law enforcement operating within New York from covering their faces or otherwise concealing their identity, except in limited circumstances.

2025-A8943 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8943
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               July 16, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Codes
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  penal law, in relation to prohibiting state and
   federal law enforcement acting within New  York  from  covering  their
   faces  or  otherwise  concealing  their  identity,  except  in certain
   circumstances

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 190.90 to
 read as follows:
 § 190.90 PEACE OFFICER IDENTITY CONCEALMENT; PROHIBITED.
   1. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE  ANY  PERSON  DESIG-
 NATED  AS  A  PEACE  OFFICER UNDER ARTICLE TWO OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 LAW, SHALL NOT WEAR ANY MASK OR PERSONAL DISGUISE WHILE INTERACTING WITH
 THE PUBLIC IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, EXCEPT FOR MEDICAL  GRADE
 MASKS  WHICH  ARE  SURGICAL  OR  N95 RESPIRATORS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE
 TRANSMISSION OF AIRBORNE DISEASES AND MASKS DESIGNED TO PROTECT  AGAINST
 EXPOSURE TO SMOKE WHEN RESPONDING TO FIRES OR DURING A STATE OF EMERGEN-
 CY RELATED TO WILDFIRES.
   2.  THE  PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY
 TO SPECIAL WEAPONS AND  TACTICS  (SWAT)  TEAM  OFFICERS  UTILIZING  SUCH
 EQUIPMENT  AS  NECESSARY  TO  PROTECT SUCH OFFICERS' FACES FROM PHYSICAL
 HARM WHILE PERFORMING SWAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
   3. ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHALL  INCLUDE  SUCH  OFFICER'S  NAME,
 BADGE NUMBER, OR BOTH ON SUCH OFFICER'S UNIFORMS.
   4.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER" MEANS
 ANY OFFICER OF A LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, OR ANY
 PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL, STATE, OR  FEDERAL  LAW  ENFORCEMENT
 AGENCY.
   5.  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ARE SEVERABLE. IF ANY PROVISION OF
 THIS SECTION OR ITS APPLICATION IS HELD INVALID, THAT  INVALIDITY  SHALL
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13483-01-5

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