A 1743 — Requires law enforcement officer to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and to present sufficient identification prior to arresting or detaining person.

A1743 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer) Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO District 20 (Union) Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL District 27 (Essex and Passaic) Assemblyman GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ District 33 (Hudson) Assemblyman  MICHAEL VENEZIA District 34 (Essex)   Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Haider, Assemblyman Verrelli, Assemblywoman Park, Assemblyman Singh, Assemblywomen Brennan, Carter, Assemblymen VeneziaWainstein, Bhalla, Assemblywoman Pintor Marin, Assemblymen Freiman, Stanley and SinghKearney         SYNOPSIS      Requires law enforcement officer to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and to present sufficient identification prior to arresting or detaining person.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativePublic Counsel.Safety and Preparedness Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments.

            3.   3.   a.  Except as provided in subsection b.

          b.   b.   Subsection a.

          (1) engaged in an undercover assignment;assignment 1or other tactical operation, including violent-crime or organized-crime suppression1 ;

          (2) wearing1the subject of a shieldthreat thatof doesretaliation notresulting concealfrom the officer’sperformance faceof to protect the officer’s faceofficial fromduties; harm;

          (3)(3)1 wearing a medicalshield gradethat maskdoes ornot N95conceal respirator designed to prevent the transmissionofficer’s offace disease and has obtained a statement from a licensed physician that the mask or respirator is necessary to protect the healthofficer’s offace thefrom officer;harm;

or          1[(3)] (4)(4)1 wearing a medical grade mask foror protectionN95 againstrespirator exposuredesigned to smokeprevent duringthe transmission of disease 1[and has obtained a Statestatement from a licensed physician that the mask or respirator is necessary to protect the health of Emergency.the officer]1;

1[or       (4)] (5)1 wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency 1;

      (6) wearing a mask designed to protect against exposure to cold during a weather emergency;

or       (7) wearing a mask to protect against exposure to biological or chemical agents during an incident where these agents may be present1.

    STATEMENT        This bill establishes the “Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act.”      This bill requires law enforcement officers operating in this State, including federal officers, to reveal their facial identities when interacting with the public while performing official duties.  An officer is exempt from this requirement when the officer is:

engaged in an undercover assignment;

wearing a shield that does not conceal the officer’s face to protect the officer’s face from harm;

wearing a medical grade mask or N95 respirator designed to prevent the transmission of disease and has obtained a statement from a licensed physician that the mask or respirator is necessary to protect the health of the officer;

or wearing a mask for protection against exposure to smoke during a State of Emergency.

     This bill also requires officers to present sufficient identification prior to detaining or arresting a person.  Under the bill, an officer is deemed to have provided sufficient identification if the officer, prior to detaining or arresting an individual, is:

(1) dressed in a department-issued uniform bearing the agency insignia;

(2) demonstrates a department-issued identification card bearing the officer’s photograph and identifying information;

(3) demonstrates a badge, tag, label, or other department-issued identification which identifies the officer by number;

or (4) verbally discloses, in a clear and audible manner, the officer’s name and the official name of the agency employing the officer.  The identification requirement would not apply when:

(1) the release of sufficient identification may compromise the integrity of an authorized investigation;

(2) a supervisor determines that stealth is necessary;

or (3) an officer reasonably believes the officer’s personal safety is at risk.        Additionally, the provisions of this bill do not prevent a law enforcement officer in plain clothes or operating an unmarked vehicle from intervening in urgent matters of public safety.

     It is the sponsor’s intent to protect law enforcement from the risk of negative encounters with the public.  Reports and videos of fearful, angry individuals reacting violently to masked or disguised law enforcement officers bearing no clear identification have been circulating on social media and in the news.

 A rise in impersonators committing violent crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault has been documented by law enforcement agencies across the country.  In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently urged the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents adequately identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification.  Requiring officers to identify themselves and reveal their facial identities while carrying out their official, public-facing duties is consistent with the FBI’s effort to diminish the erosion of public trust in law enforcement.