Washington State Moves to Ban Police Face Coverings

Legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability for law enforcement officers

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Washington state legislature is nearing final passage of a bill that would prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces while interacting with the public. The legislation, motivated by concerns over masked federal immigration agents, would allow civilians to take civil action against officers who violate the ban. The bill now heads back to the state Senate for final approval before going to the governor, who has indicated strong support for the policy.

Why it matters

This proposed law is part of a broader effort by lawmakers in Washington and other states to respond to growing concerns about the use of face coverings by federal immigration agents and the lack of transparency and accountability that can create. The legislation aims to affirm the principle that the public has a right to know who is policing them.

The details

Senate Bill 5855 would bar all law enforcement officers in Washington from masking their faces while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover operations, personal protective equipment, and bicycle/motorcycle helmets. Civilians detained by an officer violating the ban could bring civil action against the officer in their official capacity, potentially exposing governments to legal liability. The bill passed the state House along party lines and now heads back to the Senate for final approval before going to the governor.

  • The state Senate approved the legislation in January 2026.
  • The state House passed the bill on March 4, 2026.
  • The final version of the bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the governor before the legislative session ends on March 12, 2026.

The players

Rep. Julio Cortes

A Democratic state representative from Everett who said the policy is "about accountability" and affirms the public's right to know who is policing them.

Rep. Jeremie Dufault

A Republican state representative from Selah who criticized the bill as a "do-nothing political statement" that interferes with federal law enforcement.

Sen. Javier Valdez

The Democratic state senator from Seattle who sponsored the legislation and said it was "carefully drafted to protect constitutional rights while ensuring accountability."

Gov. Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington who has indicated strong support for the policy banning police face coverings.

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What they’re saying

“This policy is about accountability. It affirms a simple principle that when law enforcement officers are exercising their authority in public-facing duties, that public has the right to know who is policing them.”

— Rep. Julio Cortes, State Representative (dailyfly.com)

“This bill makes a do-nothing political statement at the expense of the safety and privacy of our law enforcement officers, because the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits state governments from interfering in the enforcement of federal law.”

— Rep. Jeremie Dufault, State Representative (dailyfly.com)

“While we are always mindful of potential legal challenges once the bill is passed, we cannot allow that to distract from the urgent reality in our communities: families continue to live in fear of masked officers taking people from our streets without transparency.”

— Sen. Javier Valdez, State Senator (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The final version of the bill must pass the state Senate and be signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson before the legislative session ends on March 12, 2026.

The takeaway

This legislation is part of a broader effort by lawmakers in Washington and other states to increase transparency and accountability for law enforcement, particularly in response to concerns over the use of face coverings by federal immigration agents. If enacted, the law could face legal challenges from the federal government, but supporters argue it is carefully crafted to withstand such challenges.