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HF3412

Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public modified and specific exceptions for law enforcement officers created.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: SF3590

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • To modify when a person may conceal their identity in public and to create specific exceptions for law enforcement officers. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.735.

Main provisions

  • The current law makes concealing identity in a public place by disguise (robe, mask, or other) a misdemeanor, with limited exceptions for:
    • religious beliefs
    • incidental to amusement or entertainment
    • protection from weather
    • protection from smoke, gas, or other airborne toxin
    • medical treatment
  • The bill adds explicit exceptions for law enforcement:
    • undercover officers may conceal their identity when necessary to preserve the integrity of an investigation or the officer’s safety
    • members of a tactical response team may conceal their identity when a face mask will substantially reduce a known risk of serious permanent disfigurement to the officer’s face
  • The section clarifies that the concealment rule does not apply to peace officers and federal law enforcement officers while performing official duties.

Significant changes to existing law

  • Extends carve-outs to allow law enforcement personnel (undercover officers and tactical teams) to conceal their identity in specific, safety- or integrity-focused circumstances.
  • Maintains existing, separate allowances for disguise in non-law-enforcement contexts (religious beliefs, entertainment, weather, toxins, medical treatment).
  • Provides a statutory exemption for certain officers from the concealment prohibition when performing official duties, reducing potential enforcement conflicts in those scenarios.

Potential impacts (high-level)

  • Could facilitate undercover operations and tactical deployments by providing clearer legal cover for concealing identity.
  • Aims to balance public safety needs with officer safety and the integrity of investigations, while preserving existing allowances for non-law-enforcement situations.

Relevant Terms

  • conceal identity
  • public place
  • robe
  • mask
  • disguise
  • religious beliefs
  • entertainment
  • weather protection
  • protection from smoke
  • protection from gas
  • airborne toxin
  • medical treatment
  • misdemeanor
  • peace officer
  • federal law enforcement officer
  • undercover officer
  • tactical response team
  • investigation integrity
  • officer safety
  • permanent disfigurement

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 17, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy
February 19, 2026HouseActionAuthor added
March 02, 2026HouseActionMotion to suspend rules
March 02, 2026HouseActionMotion did not prevail

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.735, which governs concealing identity in public.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.735",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to Minnesota Statutes 626.84 regarding peace officers; includes subdivision 1, paragraph c as part of the exception.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.84",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1, paragraph c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to Minnesota Statutes 626.77 regarding federal law enforcement officers.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.77",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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