Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 7: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, civil liability.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 7 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on November 20, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, civil liability. Primary sponsor: Michael J. Jones. It lists 25 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 18, 2026): Left in Committee Public Safety.
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; civil liability; penalty. Prohibits certain state and federal law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of their 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. Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for any person injured as a result of tortious conduct by a law-enforcement officer who knowingly and intentionally wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that sovereign immunity shall not be a defense to civil liability for such tortious conduct.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 20
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael J. Jones | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jessica L. Anderson | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Alex Askew | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 95 |
| Jennifer Boysko | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 38 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Stacey Annie Carroll | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Rae Cousins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 79 |
| Adam P. Ebbin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Angelia Graves | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 21 |
| Liz Guzmán | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 22 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Paul Krizek | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16 |
| Mamie Locke | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 23 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Dave Marsden | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 35 |
| Marty Martinez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Sam Rasoul | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 38 |
| Saddam Salim | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 37 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Shelly Simonds | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 70 |
| Vivian Watts | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Committee Public Safety
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB7)
- Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101899D