Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House restricting law enforcement officers’ use of facial coverings

The new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark aims to increase transparency by restricting law enforcement officers’ use of facial coverings in most on-duty situations, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1132 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘LEO Facial Coverings and Identifications.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill bars law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while on duty, except in active undercover work, tactical operations requiring protective gear, protection of identity during prosecution, and situations covered by health, safety or accommodation laws. It requires all agencies in the state to adopt and publicly post policies limiting facial coverings, emphasizing transparency, accountability and that generalized safety fears are not enough to justify masks. The bill mandates clear agency identification on uniforms and requires officers to provide their name or badge number on request. It authorizes the attorney general to sue noncompliant agencies, removes certain civil immunities from officers who commit specified torts while illegally masked, appropriates $500,000 in one-time funds for related training and takes effect when it becomes law.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (61) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a BA and again in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 57th House district, replacing previous state representative Ashton Clemmons.