S 3114 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires law enforcement officer to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and to present sufficient identification prior to arresting or detaining person.

New Jersey's S 3114, the "Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act," requires police officers and other law enforcement personnel to reveal their faces and show official identification before detaining or arresting someone during public interactions. Officers must wear non-concealing uniforms, display a photo ID card, show a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. Exceptions include undercover work, medical masks (with physician approval), smoke protection during emergencies, or when safety or an investigation is at risk. The law applies to all state, county, and municipal officers and takes effect immediately.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
General Assembly Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 25, 2026
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What changed between versions

Introduced Senate Committee Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
The Senate Committee Substitute broadens the exemptions to the mask prohibition in several significant ways: it expands the undercover exemption to cover all tactical operations including violent-crime and organized-crime suppression, adds a new exemption for officers facing retaliation threats, removes the physician statement requirement for medical masks, and adds two new exemptions for cold-weather and biological/chemical agent protection. The bill also consolidates with S3216, changes primary sponsorship, and removes the legislative statement.
SCOPE

The exemption for undercover assignments was expanded to cover 'other tactical operation, including violent-crime or organized-crime suppression,' significantly broadening when officers can wear masks without violating the law.

The bill now consolidates S3114 with S3216 as a combined Senate Committee Substitute, indicating it was merged with another bill during committee review.

ELIGIBILITY

A new exemption was added allowing an officer to wear a mask if they are 'the subject of a threat of retaliation resulting from the performance of the officer's official duties.'

A new exemption was added for officers wearing a mask to protect against cold during a weather emergency.

A new exemption was added for officers wearing a mask to protect against biological or chemical agents during an incident where such agents may be present.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement that an officer obtain a statement from a licensed physician before wearing a medical grade mask or N95 respirator was removed; officers can now wear such masks without any physician documentation.

TECHNICAL

The entire legislative STATEMENT section, which explained the bill's purpose and cited FBI guidance on officer identification, was removed from the substitute.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (53-19-0)
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by the Senate (24-14)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Transferred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
upper
8 primary · 19 co-sponsors

Sponsors