Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB1: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Face Coverings and Identification
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to develop a uniform policy, to be used by each law enforcement agency, prohibiting the use of a face covering in the performance of duty; requiring the Commission to develop a certain uniform policy requiring the use of worn identification by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty; requiring a law enforcement officer to wear identification while in the performance of duty in the State, with a certain exception; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Prohibition on Face Coverings and Identification FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to develop a certain model uniform policy prohibiting the use of a face covering by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty; requiring the Commission to develop a certain uniform policy requiring the use of worn identification by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty; requiring a law enforcement agency to adopt a policy consistent with the model policy developed by the Commission…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Prohibition on Face Coverings and Identification FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to develop a certain model uniform policy prohibiting the use of a face covering by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty; requiring the Commission to develop a certain uniform policy requiring the use of worn identification by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty; requiring a law enforcement agency to adopt a policy consistent with the model policy developed by the Commission; prohibiting a certain law enforcement officer from wearing a certain face covering while in the performance of duty in the State, with a certain exception; requiring a certain law enforcement officer to wear identification while in the performance of duty in the State, with a certain exception; establishing certain procedural requirements applicable to violations of this Act; and generally relating to law enforcement officers. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Public Safety Section 3-201(a) and (b) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Public Safety Section 3-207(p) and (q), 3-535, and 3-536 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the …