Gov. Newsom signs No Secret Police Act banning masks for law enforcement

(FOX40.COM) — Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senator Scott Wiener’s No Secret Police Act, also known as SB 627, on Saturday, which bans federal and local law enforcement from wearing ski masks and similar extreme masks.
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The new law will take effect on January 1, 2026 and is backed by a large coalition of immigrant rights, labor and civil rights organizations, according to Senator Wiener’s office.

“The No Secret Police Act is a bold step that builds on a remarkable record of leadership defending our immigrant communities and democracy itself,” Wiener said.

SB 627 will prohibit local, federal, and out-of-state law enforcement officers, or anyone acting on behalf of a federal officer, from wearing facial coverings that conceal their identity while in the performance of their duties. It will also require law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy governing the use of facial coverings by July 1, 2026, Wiener’s office explained.

According to Senator Wiener’s press release, the finalized version of SB 627 will have the following exemptions:

• SWAT teams
• Approved undercover assignments
• Translucent or clear masks
• Motorcycle helmets
• Eyewear to protect against retinal weapons
• N95 medical or surgical mask
• Breathing apparatuses necessary to protect against toxins, gas and smoke
• Masks to protect against inclement weather
• Masks for underwater operations

Wiener’s office explained that a violation of the bill could result in either an infraction or a misdemeanor. The civil penalty in SB 627 applies only to officers who are found to have committed an assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution while willfully and knowingly covering their faces.

For more information on SB 627, click here.