This bill creates a new section in chapter 10.116 RCW that generally prohibits a law enforcement officer from wearing a facial covering while interacting with the public in the performance of duties and requires a peace officer to be reasonably identifiable by a clearly displayed name or other information consistent with RCW 10.116.050. It defines "facial covering" and lists exclusions (including translucent face shields or clear masks that do not conceal identity, N95/surgical masks and certain respirators, helmets used for specified vehicle travel, and religious head or face coverings). It also defines "law enforcement officer," "undercover operation," and "undercover operative," and it expressly permits facial coverings in specified situations: active undercover operations, SWAT protective gear necessary to protect the face, and personal protective equipment required or authorized under the Occupational Safety and Health Act or chapter 49.17 RCW. The bill is a new substantive law and establishes a civil enforcement mechanism: a person detained in violation of the section may bring a civil action for damages against the officer in the officer's official capacity. The officer is not liable if, at the time of detention, the officer was in compliance with the identification requirement. Available remedies for a prevailing claimant include compensatory and punitive damages, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief, and any other relief the court deems appropriate. The text includes a severability clause and declares the act necessary for immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety, making it take effect immediately. Affected parties identified in the bill include state and qualifying federal peace officers, law enforcement agencies and supervising agents who authorize undercover operations, SWAT teams, members of the public who interact with law enforcement, persons detained by law enforcement, and courts hearing related civil actions. The text refers to existing definitions and provisions in RCW 10.116.010 and RCW 10.116.050 and to federal OSHA and chapter 49.17 RCW for PPE authority, but those referenced statutes and rules are not included here; the full legal effect depends on those external provisions.

If enacted, the law would effectively require most peace officers (including qualifying federal agents) to show a clearly displayed name or similar identifying information and not wear masks or other face coverings that hide their identity when interacting with the public, while preserving narrow exceptions for undercover work, SWAT protective face gear, and required PPE like respirators. Police departments and supervising agencies will likely need to update policies and training quickly because the law takes effect immediately, and they could face new civil lawsuits and monetary liability when someone is detained by an officer who was wearing a prohibited facial covering and not displaying the required identification. The groups most affected are frontline officers, their agencies, and people detained by police: agencies may incur costs to revise protocols, train staff, and defend or settle litigation and pay damages or attorneys’ fees if plaintiffs prevail; officers who comply with the identification rule at the time of detention would be shielded from liability under this provision. It is unclear from the extracted text exactly what “clearly displayed name or other information” requires in practice, because it relies on existing RCW 10.116.050 which is not included here.