Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

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

Direction

Firearms otherAI label

No change to gun access model confidence 70%

Permits law-enforcement officers assigned to SWAT or other specialized tactical teams to wear facial coverings while performing official duties, which may include use of firearms or tactical equipment.

7. A facial covering used by any law-enforcement officer assigned to a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team or other specialized tactical team or unit while engaged in the performance of official SWAT team duties;

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-05-20: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1132)
Filed: 2026-01-13
Sponsor: Saddam Salim D + 10 cosponsors (10 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill primarily restricts law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings that conceal identity during official duties, with listed exceptions (including for SWAT/tactical teams and certain protective gear) and a requirement to display identifying badges/insignia. No provisions address buying, selling, owning, carrying, or access to firearms, ammunition, or related accessories, nor any of the listed topics on transgender issues, abortion, or immigration enforcement. The SWAT exception and badge requirement are noted under firearms/other as they tangentially relate to law-enforcement,

Related bills

HB240 Admission to bail; fixing terms of bail, mental health considerations.Restricts gun access Committee
HB623 Forfeiture of certain weapons; petition for return by Commonwealth.Expands gun access Committee
HB778 Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions.Restricts gun access Committee
HB919 Retail Sales and Use Tax; impose firearm and ammunition tax.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Committee

Hearings and calendar

2026-01-28 19:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-04 09:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-27 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Hearing House Committee Room A - 008

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-01-28	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)	9-5	Passed
2026-02-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-02-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-09	S	Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-02-27	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)	15-7	Passed
2026-03-04	H	Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)	64-35	Passed
2026-03-06	S	House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)	0-40	Failed
2026-03-10	S	Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-03-13	S	Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed
2026-03-14	H	Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)	62-35	Passed
2026-04-22	S	Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-13
Comm Sub 2026-02-05
Comm Sub 2026-02-27
Comm Sub 2026-03-13
Enrolled 2026-03-30
Comm Sub 2026-04-14
Chaptered 2026-05-20
Chaptered 2026-05-20

History (54 actions)

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