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SF4582 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public and creating specific exceptions for law enforcement officers modification

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • The bill changes when a person may conceal their identity in a public place and adds specific exceptions for law enforcement officers. It aims to clarify and narrow the conditions under which wearing disguises (like robes or masks) is allowed or prohibited, and to outline special allowances for police and federal officers during certain operations.

Main Provisions

  • Prohibition on concealing identity: A person in a public place who hides their identity by wearing a robe, mask, or other disguise is, by default, guilty of a misdemeanor, unless an exception applies.
  • Exemptions based on everyday or protective reasons:
    • Religious beliefs
    • Incidental to amusement or entertainment
    • Protection from weather
    • Protection from smoke, gas, or other airborne toxins
    • Medical treatment
  • Law enforcement exceptions:
    • The general concealment prohibition does not apply to a peace officer (as defined by state law) or a federal law enforcement officer when performing official duties as an undercover officer.
    • The concealment may be allowed to preserve the integrity of an investigation or the officer’s safety.
    • A member of a tactical response team may wear a face mask if doing so substantially reduces a known risk of serious permanent disfigurement to the officer’s face.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Adds explicit exceptions for undercover law enforcement and tactical operations, clarifying that certain disguises used by officers during investigations or high-risk encounters may be lawful.
  • Narrows or clarifies the circumstances under which concealing identity is illegal, by tying the prohibition to the listed exemptions and specifying protections for officers during official duties.

Practical Implications

  • People who conceal their identity for religious reasons, weather protection, safety from toxins, medical needs, or entertainment purposes may be exempt from the misdemeanor charge.
  • Law enforcement personnel have clarified allowances to disguise their identity in undercover roles or when necessary for safety or investigative integrity.
  • Potential impact on public behavior and events where disguises are common, particularly regarding how everyday attire, costumes, or masks are regulated in public spaces.

Relevant Terms

concealing identity; public place; robe; mask; disguise; religious beliefs; amusement; entertainment; protection from weather; protection from smoke; protection from gas; airborne toxin; medical treatment; misdemeanor; peace officer; federal law enforcement officer; undercover officer; integrity of the investigation; officer safety; tactical response team; face mask; disfigurement

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 18, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 18, 2026SenateActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds exemptions for peace officers (as defined in section 626.84, subd. 1, para. c) and for federal law enforcement officers (as defined in section 626.77, subd. 3) when performing official duties as undercover officers.",
        "Allows concealment of an officer's identity to preserve the integrity of an investigation or the officer's safety in the context of undercover work.",
        "Adds an exemption for a member of a tactical response team when a face mask will substantially reduce a known risk of serious permanent disfigurement to the officer's face."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.735 (Concealing Identity) to modify when a person may conceal their identity in a public place and to add specific exemptions for certain law enforcement officers. It creates carve-outs for peace officers and federal law enforcement officers performing official duties, including undercover operations, and for tactical response team members when mask use substantially reduces the risk of serious permanent disfigurement to the officer's face.",
      "modified": [
        "Modifies the scope of 609.735 to include explicit exceptions for designated law enforcement officers and undercover/tactical contexts."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.735",
    "subdivision": "subd. 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This is cited as the governing statute defining peace officers, referenced in the bill to establish exemptions under 609.735.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.84",
    "subdivision": "subd. 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This is cited as the governing statute defining federal law enforcement officers, referenced in the bill to establish exemptions under 609.735.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.77",
    "subdivision": "subd. 3"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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