New legislation will add state law enforcement officers to the No Secret Police Act, restoring enforceability after federal judge confirms that federal agents can do their jobs without masking

LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors Alliance Action (PAA) today announced new legislation by Senator Scott Wiener to strengthen California’s No Secret Police Act following a federal court ruling that explicitly affirmed the state’s authority to prohibit law enforcement officers – including federal agents – from wearing masks while policing communities, so long as the law applies uniformly across all levels of law enforcement.

In her decision, U.S. District Court Judge Christina A. Snyder made clear “that federal officers can perform their federal functions without wearing masks,” and held that California has the constitutional authority to regulate masking and identification requirements for law enforcement operating within the state. Because the No Secret Police Act (SB 627) did not include state law enforcement officers, enforcement of the masking provision was temporarily paused. In direct response, PAA is now co-sponsoring new legislation by Senator Scott Wiener to add state officers to the law – closing the gap identified by the court and restoring full enforceability.

“Today’s decision affirms what we’ve long known: federal agents don’t need masks to do their jobs,” said Cristine Soto DeBerry, Executive Director of Prosecutors Alliance Action, a co-sponsor of SB 627. “The No Secret Police Act is critical to protecting everyone – community members and law enforcement alike – by guaranteeing transparency and accountability. We urge the legislature to expedite our new bill to ensure the law applies to all levels of law enforcement and to make clear that the federal government cannot terrorize California communities in secrecy and without consequences.”

While the court temporarily halted enforcement of the masking provision, it upheld other core elements of SB 627, as well as a companion law requiring federal officers to clearly identify themselves while on duty. Judge Snyder found that “the challenged provisions, restricting law enforcement officers in California from wearing masks indiscriminately and requiring visible identification, are within the state’s police powers.”

PAA and its legislative partners are urging lawmakers to move quickly to pass the updated bill, restoring a clear, uniform standard: law enforcement officers policing California communities must do so openly, visibly, and with accountability.

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