Bill Text: NJ A2004 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits law enforcement officer from concealing identity during certain public operations.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [A2004 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A2004-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits law enforcement officer from concealing identity during certain public operations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their identity during certain public operations and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section, "law enforcement officer" means a member of any federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons violating the laws of this State or of the United States. The term includes any individual authorized, deputized, or designated by a federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency to perform the functions of a law enforcement officer on behalf of the agency.
b. A law enforcement officer shall be clearly identified by the officer's employing agency name or widely known initials and the officer's name or unique badge or identification number on the officer's uniform.
c. Except as provided in subsection d. of this section, a law enforcement officer shall not wear a mask or disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer's official duties.
d. Subsection c. of this section shall not apply to a law enforcement officer who is:
(1) engaged in an undercover assignment;
(2) engaged in a special weapons and tactics team operation using gear necessary to protect the officer's face from physical harm while in the performance of the team's duties;
(3) wearing a mask necessary to perform duties during a water rescue operation;
(4) wearing a mask designed to protect against exposure to cold during a declared weather emergency;
(5) wearing a mask designed to protect against exposure to smoke during a fire-involved circumstance;
(6) wearing a mask for protection against exposure to biological or chemical agents during an incident where such agents may be present;
(7) wearing a medical-grade mask or N95 respirator designed to prevent the transmission of airborne disease, and has obtained a statement from a licensed physician that the mask or respirator is necessary to protect the health of the officer; or
(8) wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer's face to protect the officer's face from harm.
e. A law enforcement
officer who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a
disorderly persons offense.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits a law enforcement officer from concealing the identity of the officer or the officer's employing agency when engaged in certain public operations.
Under the bill, a law enforcement officer is defined as a member of any federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons violating the laws of this State or the country, and includes any person authorized, deputized, or designated to perform these functions.
The bill requires a law enforcement officer to clearly identify the officer's agency name or widely known initials, as well as the officer's name or unique badge number, on the officer's uniform.
The bill also prohibits an officer from wearing a mask or disguise unless certain exceptions apply. The exceptions include undercover work; special weapons and tactical operation assignments requiring gear to protect the officer's face; water rescue operations; work that requires a mask for environmental reasons, such as protection from smoke inhalation, extreme cold or biohazards, protection from airborne disease as indicated necessary by a physician; and wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer's identity.
A law enforcement officer who violates the bill's provisions is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months imprisonment, or both.
