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Council passes mask/identification bill for law enforcement with amendments; vote unanimous
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Summary
The County Council unanimously approved Bill 5‑26 with amendments requiring on-duty officers to display identification, allowing face coverings as reasonable workplace accommodations, exempting undercover officers and establishing an online complaint portal; the law will sunset when the state adopts uniform policy.
The Montgomery County Council on April 28 enacted Bill 5‑26, known in committee as Police Mask or Facial Coverings Prohibited, adopting a set of amendments intended to balance officer identification and public-safety accommodations. The ordinance passed by roll call vote; all members present voted in favor.
The Public Safety Committee had recommended enactment with amendments that require on-duty officers to display identification, allow masks or face coverings when necessary as a reasonable workplace accommodation, exempt undercover and plainclothes officers, create an online complaint portal for alleged violations, and sunset the county law once the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission adopts a uniform statewide policy.
Council legal staff provided a case-law update noting related litigation in other jurisdictions. "There is an injunction that was reaffirmed by the Ninth Circuit concerning a similar identification requirement," the staff update said, noting courts are actively reviewing related laws in other states.
Council President Will Jawando said the bill provides interim protections for residents while acknowledging the evolving legal landscape. "I am proud of Montgomery County for continuing to live our values and to stand up for all of our residents," he said, thanking Public Safety Committee members and staff for their work on the amendments.
Roll call recorded unanimous "yes" votes from Councilmembers Luedtke, Mink, Sales, Stewart, Glass, Katz, Friedson, Evans, Jawando, Balcom and Fani Gonzalez; the clerk announced the vote as approved by all present. The bill will be implemented administratively by county staff pending any legal review.
