2026 -- H 7211

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, J. Lombardi, Morales, Potter, Cruz, Giraldo,
Alzate, Diaz, Craven, and Speakman

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Findings

     The General Assembly finds and declares:

     (a) That the routine use of facial coverings by law enforcement officers has significant

implications for public perception, officer-community interactions, and accountability.

     (b) Whether intended or not, members of the public may experience fear or intimidation

when approached by officers whose faces are obscured. This perception can heighten defensive

behaviors and unnecessarily escalate situations.

     (c) Facial coverings limit the visibility of facial expressions, which are essential

components of nonverbal communication. In high-stress or emotionally charged interactions, the

inability to read an officer’s expression may lead to misinterpretation of tone or intent, increasing

the risk of conflict escalation.

     (d) The visibility of an officer’s face is vital for promoting transparency, facilitating

communication, and building trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they

serve.

     (e) When officers are not readily identifiable, it increases the risk of impersonation by

unauthorized individuals, which further undermines public trust, endangers public safety, and

hinders legitimate law enforcement operations.

     (f) The use of facial coverings by law enforcement should not obscure officer identity or

hinder accountability, nor should those coverings be used in a manner that enables or conceals

discriminatory or unlawful conduct.

     SECTION 2. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 169

THE RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT

     42-169-1. Title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Rhode Island Community

Protection Act."

     42-169-2. Definitions.

     For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following

meanings:

     (1) “Law enforcement officer” means any of the following:

     (i) Any person described under § 42-28.6-1;

     (ii) Any person employed by a law enforcement agency of another state; or

     (iii) Any person employed by a federal law enforcement agency.

     (2) “Mask” means a covering of all or part of the face worn as a disguise or to conceal the

identity of the person wearing the covering.

     42-169-3. Masks and disguises prohibited.

     (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 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 and as needed

to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases, masks designed and as needed to protect against

exposure to smoke during a fire involved situation, masks necessary to perform duties during a

water rescue operation, masks related to protection against exposure to biological or chemical

agents during an incident where such agents may be present, or masks designed and as needed to

protect against exposure to cold during a declared weather emergency.

     (b) This subsection shall not apply to:

     (1). Special weapons and tactics (“SWAT”) team officers utilizing gear necessary to protect

their faces from physical harm while they perform their SWAT responsibilities;

     (2) Law enforcement officers engaged in high-risk situations including, but not limited to,

a shootout, standoff, hostage-taking situation, or terrorist situation, where a mask provides physical

protection to the face; or

     (3) Law enforcement officers engaged in an undercover assignment in the regular

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performance of their official duties.

     42-169-4. Identification required.

     (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, law enforcement officers shall wear

appropriate identification while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, which

shall include:

     (1) The law enforcement officer’s name or badge number; and

     (2) The full name or initials of the law enforcement officer's employing law enforcement

agency.

     (b) This subsection shall not apply when a law enforcement officer is engaged in an

undercover assignment in the regular performance of their official duties.

     42-169-5. Criminal liability.

     Any person violating the provisions of § 42-169-3 or § 42-169-4 shall be imprisoned not

exceeding one year or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

     42-169-6. Civil liability.

     Notwithstanding any other law, any person who is found to have committed an assault,

battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution, while wearing

a mask or disguise in a knowing and willful violation of this chapter shall not be entitled to assert

any privilege or immunity for their tortious conduct against a claim of civil liability, and shall be

liable to that individual for the greater of actual damages or statutory damages of not less than ten

thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is greater.

     42-169-7. Severability.

     The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its

application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that shall

be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT

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     This act would bar law enforcement from wearing masks or disguises when interacting

with the public, require visible ID, allow limited safety and undercover exceptions, and impose

criminal penalties and civil liability for violations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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