Bill Commons

CA SB 627

enacted

Law enforcement: masks.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper

Quick answers

Did CA SB 627 pass?

Yes. CA SB 627 has been enacted into law as of 2025-09-20. Latest recorded action (2025-09-20): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA SB 627 about?

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise, as specified, with the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification while committing a public offense, or for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction for any public offense. This bill would make it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. The bill would define law enforcement officer as anyone designated by California law as a peace officer who is employed by a city, county, or other local agency, and any officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency or law enforcement agency of another state, or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency or agency of another state. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable as an infraction or a misdemeanor, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require any law enforcement agency operating in California to, by July 1, 2026, maintain and publicly post a written policy limiting the use of facial coverings, as specified. The bill would exempt personnel of any agency from the crime of wearing a facial covering if an agency maintains a policy pursuant to this section no later than July 1, 2026. The bill would deem a policy consistent with these provisions for the purposes of that exception unless a member of the public, an oversight body, or a local governing authority challenges it. The bill would also impose a specified civil penalty against certain officers for tortious conduct, including, but not limited to, false imprisonment or false arrest of an individual while wearing a facial covering. The bill would, if the agency does not address deficiencies within 90 days, authorize the complaining party to proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction for a judicial determination of the exemption, as specified. The bill would define a law enforcement agency for these purposes as any entity of a city, county, or other local agency, that employs anyone designated by California law as a peace officer, any federal law enforcement agency, or any law enforcement agency of another state. By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would declare its provisions to be severable. This bill would make related findings and declarations. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Who sponsors CA SB 627?

Wiener is the primary sponsor of CA SB 627, joined by 33 cosponsors.

Description

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise, as specified, with the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification while committing a public offense, or for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction for any public offense. This bill would make it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. The bill would define law enforcement officer as anyone designated by California law as a peace officer who is employed by a city, county, or other local agency, and any officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency or law enforcement agency of another state, or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency or agency of another state. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable as an infraction or a misdemeanor, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require any law enforcement agency operating in California to, by July 1, 2026, maintain and publicly post a written policy limiting the use of facial coverings, as specified. The bill would exempt personnel of any agency from the crime of wearing a facial covering if an agency maintains a policy pursuant to this section no later than July 1, 2026. The bill would deem a policy consistent with these provisions for the purposes of that exception unless a member of the public, an oversight body, or a local governing authority challenges it. The bill would also impose a specified civil penalty against certain officers for tortious conduct, including, but not limited to, false imprisonment or false arrest of an individual while wearing a facial covering. The bill would, if the agency does not address deficiencies within 90 days, authorize the complaining party to proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction for a judicial determination of the exemption, as specified. The bill would define a law enforcement agency for these purposes as any entity of a city, county, or other local agency, that employs anyone designated by California law as a peace officer, any federal law enforcement agency, or any law enforcement agency of another state. By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would declare its provisions to be severable. This bill would make related findings and declarations. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Introduced
2025-02-20
Latest action
2025-09-20 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Wienerauthor
  • Arreguínauthor
  • Pérezauthor
  • Wahabauthor
  • Bryanprincipal coauthor
  • Ashbycoauthor
  • Beckercoauthor
  • Caballerocoauthor
  • Gonzalezcoauthor
  • McNerneycoauthor
  • Menjivarcoauthor
  • Padillacoauthor
  • Smallwood-Cuevascoauthor
  • Sterncoauthor
  • Weber Piersoncoauthor
  • Bontacoauthor
  • Carrillocoauthor
  • Connollycoauthor
  • Elhawarycoauthor
  • Garciacoauthor
  • Gipsoncoauthor
  • Mark Gonzálezcoauthor
  • Haneycoauthor
  • Jacksoncoauthor
  • Kalracoauthor
  • Leecoauthor
  • McKinnorcoauthor
  • Ortegacoauthor
  • Quirk-Silvacoauthor
  • Rogerscoauthor
  • Schultzcoauthor
  • Sharp-Collinscoauthor
  • Solachecoauthor
  • Wilsoncoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-20

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    introduction,reading-1,referral-committee

  2. 2025-02-21

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  3. 2025-03-05

    Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and HOUSING.

    referral-committee

  4. 2025-03-24

    Set for hearing April 2.

  5. 2025-04-03

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 637.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  6. 2025-04-24

    Set for hearing April 29.

  7. 2025-04-30

    From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 936.) (April 29).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  8. 2025-05-01

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

    reading-1,reading-2

  9. 2025-05-08

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1050.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  10. 2025-05-08

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    reading-1

  11. 2025-05-29

    Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and H. & C.D.

    referral-committee

  12. 2025-06-11

    June 18 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  13. 2025-06-16

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  14. 2025-06-19

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

    referral-committee

  15. 2025-06-24

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  16. 2025-07-09

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  17. 2025-07-16

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 15).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  18. 2025-07-17

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  19. 2025-08-20

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (August 20).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  20. 2025-08-21

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  21. 2025-08-25

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  22. 2025-09-05

    Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.

  23. 2025-09-05

    Read third time and amended.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3

  24. 2025-09-05

    Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-3

  25. 2025-09-09

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 45. Noes 23. Page 3120.) Ordered to the Senate.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  26. 2025-09-09

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  27. 2025-09-10

    From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 3. Noes 0. Page 2759.) Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    committee-passage,referral-committee

  28. 2025-09-10

    Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).

    referral-committee

  29. 2025-09-11

    Motion to reconsider made by Senator Wiener.

  30. 2025-09-11

    Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2935.)

  31. 2025-09-11

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 2908.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  32. 2025-09-11

    From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 2939.)

    committee-passage

  33. 2025-09-11

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 28. Noes 11. Page 2936.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  34. 2025-09-17

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  35. 2025-09-20

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  36. 2025-09-20

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 02/20/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-20Compare
  • 06/16/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-16Compare
  • 06/24/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-24Compare
  • 07/09/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-07-09Compare
  • 07/17/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-07-17Compare
  • 08/21/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-08-21Compare
  • 09/05/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-09-05Compare
  • 09/16/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-16Compare
  • 09/20/25 - Chaptered — 2025-09-20Compare
  • SB627Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Housing] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-04-02 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Seyarto: yes

  • Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

    2025-04-29 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (11)
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Padilla: yes

  • Consent Calendar 2nd

    2025-05-08 · pass · 36-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Grove: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Rubio: other
    • Valladares: other
    • Reyes: other
    • Hurtado: other

  • Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-07-15 · pass · 5-2

    Member-level votes (9)
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Lackey: no
    • Alanis: no
    • Ramos: other
    • Nguyen: other

  • Do pass as amended.

    2025-08-20 · pass · 10-3

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Fong: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Ta: no
    • Tangipa: no
    • Dixon: no
    • Pacheco: other
    • Jeff Gonzalez: other

  • SB 627 Wiener Senate Third Reading By Carrillo

    2025-09-10 · pass · 45-23

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Johnson: no
    • Dixon: no
    • Michelle Rodriguez: no
    • Ávila Farías: no
    • Jeff Gonzalez: no
    • Pacheco: no
    • Castillo: no
    • Alanis: no
    • Wallis: no
    • Patterson: no
    • Ta: no
    • Hoover: no
    • Gallagher: no
    • Macedo: no
    • Ellis: no
    • Davies: no
    • DeMaio: no
    • Hadwick: no
    • Tangipa: no
    • Lackey: no
    • Sanchez: no
    • Chen: no
    • Flora: no
    • Nguyen: other
    • Arambula: other
    • Krell: other
    • Ransom: other
    • Bauer-Kahan: other
    • Irwin: other
    • Ramos: other
    • Blanca Rubio: other
    • Soria: other
    • Petrie-Norris: other
    • Calderon: other
    • Bains: other

  • Unfinished Business SB627 Wiener et al. Concurrence

    2025-09-11 · pass · 27-10

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Umberg: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Valladares: no
    • Alvarado-Gil: no
    • Ochoa Bogh: no
    • Seyarto: no
    • Jones: no
    • Grove: no
    • Strickland: no
    • Niello: no
    • Dahle: no
    • Choi: no
    • Hurtado: other
    • Richardson: other
    • Grayson: other

  • That the Assembly amendments be concurred in

    2025-09-11 · pass · 5-1

    Member-level votes (6)
    • Caballero: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Seyarto: no

  • Unfinished Business SB627 Wiener et al. Concurrence Reconsider

    2025-09-11 · pass · 30-10

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Umberg: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Valladares: no
    • Alvarado-Gil: no
    • Ochoa Bogh: no
    • Seyarto: no
    • Jones: no
    • Grove: no
    • Strickland: no
    • Niello: no
    • Dahle: no
    • Choi: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB627

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

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