# Virginia SB352: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty.

Virginia SB352, Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-20 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB352-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB352
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings, exceptions, penalty.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-05-20, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)
- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 14 (303 yes, 182 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

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 HB 1482.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New mask and identification rules for officers: mixed, medium. Virginia officers on official duty generally cannot wear opaque coverings that hide a substantial part of their face. Exceptions allow clear face shields, infection-control masks, hazardous-environment safety gear, underwater breathing devices, and eyewear protecting against retinal weapons. Ordina…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 64 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments rejected | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 5 |   |

## Actions (53)

- 2026-05-20: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132) (Governor)
- 2026-05-20: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132) (Governor)
- 2026-05-20: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1132 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Communicated to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-04-12: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB352ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Schmidt, Simon, Wilt (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-10: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate Conferees: Salim, Carroll Foy, Peake (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-09: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-06: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108862D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Courts of Justice Amendments rejected (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Committee substitute printed 26107147D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB352) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100635D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-05-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225780.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225776.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225779.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225775.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219635.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219634.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219631.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214198.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214197.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210679.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210675.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210674.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186991.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186990.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128658.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128657.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105267.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100271.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089736.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089735.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225780.HTML)
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225776.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225779.PDF)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225775.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219635.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219634.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219631.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214198.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214197.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210679.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210675.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210674.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186991.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186990.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128658.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128657.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105267.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100271.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089736.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089735.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB352-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).