HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4886 FILED ON: 7/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4684
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James K. Hawkins
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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 and public trust.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 7/7/2025 |
Carlos González | 10th Hampden | 7/8/2025 |
Danillo A. Sena | 37th Middlesex | 7/8/2025 |
Tram T. Nguyen | 18th Essex | 7/8/2025 |
Mike Connolly | 26th Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Manny Cruz | 7th Essex | 7/11/2025 |
Carmine Lawrence Gentile | 13th Middlesex | 7/10/2025 |
John J. Lawn, Jr. | 10th Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Tara T. Hong | 18th Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 7/14/2025 |
Adrian C. Madaro | 1st Suffolk | 7/9/2025 |
Liz Miranda | Second Suffolk | 7/9/2025 |
Steven Owens | 29th Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Amy Mah Sangiolo | 11th Middlesex | 7/9/2025 |
Greg Schwartz | 12th Middlesex | 7/10/2025 |
Susannah M. Whipps | 2nd Franklin | 7/11/2025 |
James Arciero | 2nd Middlesex | 10/8/2025 |
James C. Arena-DeRosa | 8th Middlesex | 8/17/2025 |
John Barrett, III | 1st Berkshire | 9/22/2025 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 8/3/2025 |
Michelle L. Ciccolo | 15th Middlesex | 10/15/2025 |
Leigh Davis | 3rd Berkshire | 7/17/2025 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 7/28/2025 |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk | 11/7/2025 |
Michelle M. DuBois | 10th Plymouth | 9/23/2025 |
Lydia Edwards | Third Suffolk | 7/17/2025 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 12/1/2025 |
Rodney M. Elliott | 16th Middlesex | 9/2/2025 |
Tricia Farley-Bouvier | 2nd Berkshire | 7/29/2025 |
Homar Gómez | 2nd Hampshire | 9/30/2025 |
Patrick Joseph Kearney | 4th Plymouth | 7/18/2025 |
John F. Keenan | Norfolk and Plymouth | 9/24/2025 |
Robyn K. Kennedy | First Worcester | 9/23/2025 |
Russell E. Holmes | 6th Suffolk | 7/21/2025 |
Joan B. Lovely | Second Essex | 12/5/2025 |
William F. MacGregor | 10th Suffolk | 10/1/2025 |
Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester | 9/4/2025 |
Estela A. Reyes | 4th Essex | 9/23/2025 |
David M. Rogers | 24th Middlesex | 10/9/2025 |
Margaret R. Scarsdale | 1st Middlesex | 10/5/2025 |
Erika Uyterhoeven | 27th Middlesex | 11/4/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4886 FILED ON: 7/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4684
By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James K. Hawkins and others relative to penalties for law enforcement officers wearing masks or personal disguises while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act ensuring law enforcement identification and public trust.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section XXXX is added to the Massachusetts Penal Code, to read:
MGL Chapter 41, Section 98
(a) A law enforcement officer shall not wear any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, except for medical grade masks that are surgical or N95 respirators designed to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases and masks designed to protect against exposure to smoke or toxins during a state of emergency.
(b) A violation of this section shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to ensure that Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team officers can utilize gear necessary to protect their faces from physical harm while they perform their SWAT responsibilities.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require law enforcement officers to include their name or badge number on their uniforms.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “law enforcement officer” means any officer of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, or any person acting on behalf of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency.
(e) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
No cost or reimbursement is required by this act