SD3574 — File 26-0104

1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3574 FILED ON: 1/12/2026 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Patricia D. Jehlen _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act ensuring law enforcement identification for public safety. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex Rebecca L. Rausch Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol 1/13/2026 Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 1/12/2026 James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 1/12/2026 Christopher J. Worrell 5th Suffolk 1/13/2026

1 of 3 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3574 FILED ON: 1/12/2026 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Rebecca L. Rausch, James K. Hawkins, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure law enforcement identification for public safety. The Judiciary. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act ensuring law enforcement identification for public safety. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 10 of Chapter 6E of the General Laws is hereby amended in the 2 first paragraph by inserting after item “xvi” the following new item:- (xvii) the officer used a 3 mask or personal disguise in violation of section 34B of chapter 268 4 SECTION 2. Chapter 268 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 5 Section 34A the following new section:- 6 Section 34B. Use of a mask or personal disguise by a law enforcement officer. 7 a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires 8 otherwise, have the following meanings: 9 “Agency”, a law enforcement agency. 10 “Law enforcement agency”, (i) a federal, state, county, municipal or district law 11 enforcement agency, including, but not limited to: a city, town or district police department, the

2 of 3 12 office of environmental law enforcement, the University of Massachusetts police department, the 13 department of the state police, the Massachusetts Port Authority police department, also known 14 as the Port of Boston Authority police department, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation 15 Authority police department; (ii) a sheriff's department in its performance of police duties and 16 functions; (iii) a public or private college, university or other educational institution or hospital 17 police department; or (iv) a humane society police department in section 57 of chapter 22C. 18 “Law enforcement officer'' or ''officer'', any officer of an agency, including the head of 19 the agency; a special state police officer appointed pursuant to section 57, section 58 or section 20 63 of chapter 22C; a special sheriff appointed pursuant to section 4 of chapter 37 performing 21 police duties and functions; a deputy sheriff appointed pursuant to section 3 of said chapter 37 22 performing police duties and functions; a constable executing an arrest for any reason; or any 23 other special, reserve or intermittent police officer. 24 “Mask” or “personal disguise”, any covering that obscures the face of an officer that 25 renders them unidentifiable, or any clothing that conceals an officer’s status as an officer; this 26 does not include a face shield if it does not conceal the wearer’s face. 27 b) Any officer found to be utilizing a mask or personal disguise while performing their 28 duties shall be required to pay a fine of not more than $1000. 29 c) An officer is exempt from this section for the purposes of: (i) active undercover 30 operations or assignments authorized by court order; (ii) tactical operations and states of 31 emergency declared by the governor where protective gear is required for personal safety; (iii) 32 compliance with applicable law governing reasonable accommodations for a documented 33 disability or occupational health and safety; or (iv) protection of identity during active

3 of 3 34 prosecution; provided, however, that a mask or personal disguise may be used only if no other 35 reasonable alternative exists and the necessity is documented.