Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1482: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1482 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 23, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty. Primary sponsor: Charlie Schmidt. It lists 25 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 12, 2026): Governor's recommendation received by House.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty. Prohibits any law-enforcement officer, defined in the bill, from wearing a facial covering, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of his official duties. The bill sets out several exceptions to such prohibition, including protective facial coverings to protect against disease, infection, and exposure to toxic substances and facial coverings worn by any law-enforcement officer assigned to a special weapons and tactics team while engaged in the performance of his official duties with such team. The bill subjects the law-enforcement officer to disciplinary action, including dismissal, demotion, suspension, transfer, or decertification, and creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any law-enforcement officer who wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill unless the law-enforcement agency that employs such law-enforcement officer has adopted and established a written policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings. The bill also directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop a model policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings by law-enforcement officers. This bill is identical to SB 352.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 21
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Schmidt | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jessica L. Anderson | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Destiny LeVere Bolling | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 80 |
| Katrina Callsen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 54 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Stacey Annie Carroll | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Nicole Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 66 |
| Rae Cousins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 79 |
| Lindsey Dougherty | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 75 |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Dan Helmer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Phil Hernandez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 94 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Amy Laufer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 55 |
| Alfonso Lopez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Adele McClure | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Sam Rasoul | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 38 |
| Holly Seibold | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Briana Sewell | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Kathy Tran | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Governor's recommendation received by House
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
- Signed by Speaker
- Signed by President
- Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1482ER)
- Enrolled
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1482)
- Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
- Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Conference Report released
Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history