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House passes bill limiting face coverings for law enforcement after lengthy debate
Summary
The Washington House on final passage approved Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which restricts when law enforcement officers may cover their faces during public-facing duties. Supporters said the measure increases transparency; critics warned it could undermine officer safety and raise constitutional and litigation concerns.
The Washington State House approved Substitute Senate Bill 5855 on final passage after hours of debate and dozens of amendment votes, with the final roll call reading 56 yays, 37 nays and 5 excused.
Representative Lorena Cortez (39th District) framed the bill as “about accountability,” saying the measure requires public-facing officers to be identifiable and helps preserve public trust after reported incidents involving masked federal officers. “This policy is about accountability,” Cortez said on the floor, urging colleagues to support the amended measure.
Opponents said the bill could hamper law enforcement operations and be vulnerable to legal challenge. Representative Graham (6th District) said he opposed the policy, arguing it…
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