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Bill > SF2108
IA SF2108
IA SF2108A bill for an act relating to facial coverings worn by peace officers and providing penalties.
summary
Introduced
01/26/2026
01/26/2026
In Committee
01/26/2026
01/26/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to facial coverings worn by peace officers. The bill provides that a peace officer shall not wear a facial covering in the performance of the officer’s duties. A “facial covering” is defined as any opaque mask, garment, helmet, headgear, or other item that conceals or obscures the facial identity of an individual including but not limited to a balaclava, tactical mask, gator, ski mask, and any similar type of facial covering or face-shielding item. The bill lists items not considered to be a “facial covering”. A person who violates the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. The bill provides that a peace officer who is found to have committed an assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution, while wearing a facial covering in a knowing and willful violation of the bill, is not entitled to assert any privilege or immunity for the officer’s tortious conduct against a claim of civil liability, and shall be liable to the injured individual for actual damages or statutory damages of not less than $10,000, whichever is greater.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits peace officers, defined as state patrol officers, city or county police members, and federal or out-of-state law enforcement officers, from wearing a "facial covering" while on duty, with "facial covering" broadly defined as anything that obscures a person's face, such as a balaclava or tactical mask, but specifically excluding items like translucent face shields, medical masks for disease protection, protective gear for hazardous conditions, underwater equipment, motorcycle helmets, and eyewear for retinal weapon defense. Violating this prohibition is considered a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and fines. Furthermore, if a peace officer knowingly and willfully violates this law while committing certain offenses like assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution, they will lose any legal privilege or immunity that would normally protect them from civil lawsuits and will be personally liable for at least $10,000 in damages to the injured party, in addition to any actual damages.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Bousselot. S.J. 160. (on 01/28/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF2108 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF2108.html |
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