SF3590

SF3590 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public modification and specific exceptions creation for law enforcement officers

Related bill: HF3412

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

To clarify when a person may conceal their identity in public and to create specific exceptions for law enforcement officers. The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes to make it clear that concealing one’s identity in public is generally illegal, but it sets out narrowly defined exceptions for certain situations and for law enforcement activities.

Main Provisions

General rule: A person who conceals their identity in a public place by wearing a robe, mask, or other disguise commits a misdemeanor, with some exceptions.
Exceptions to the rule: Concealment is allowed if it is based on religious beliefs, incidental to amusement, or for protection from weather, protection from smoke, gas, or other airborne toxins, or for medical treatment.
Law enforcement exemptions: The prohibition does not apply to a peace officer performing official duties as an undercover officer if concealing identity is necessary to preserve the integrity of an investigation or the officer’s safety. It also does not apply to a federal law enforcement officer under similar undercover circumstances.
Tactical teams exception: A member of a tactical response team may conceal their identity with a face mask when doing so would substantially reduce a known risk of serious permanent disfigurement to the officer’s face.

Significance and Effects

The bill narrows the circumstances under which disguises are illegal and creates targeted protections for police work, including undercover operations and tactical responses.
It reinforces that, outside the specified exceptions, public concealment of identity remains a misdemeanor.

Changes to Existing Law

Adds explicit carve-outs for law enforcement officers (peace officers and federal officers) in undercover and safety contexts.
Specifies conditions under which mask-wearing or disguises are permitted in the line of duty, while retaining a general misdemeanor for concealed identity in public otherwise.

Practical Implications

Individuals may wear disguises in more limited, clearly defined situations (religious, entertainment-related, weather, toxin exposure, medical treatment) without facing misdemeanor charges.
Law enforcement activities—undercover work and tactical operations—receive statutory protection to conceal identity when necessary for safety or investigative integrity.

Relevant terms concealing identity, public place, robe, mask, disguise, religious beliefs, amusement, weather protection, smoke, gas, airborne toxin, medical treatment, misdemeanor, peace officer, federal law enforcement officer, undercover officer, integrity of the investigation, tactical response team, face mask, disfigurement, Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.735

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file

Past committee meetings

Judiciary and Public Safety on: February 20, 2026 10:00

Actions

Date	Chamber	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 17, 2026	Senate	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 17, 2026	Senate	Action	Referred to	Judiciary and Public Safety
February 19, 2026	Senate	Action	Authors added

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Explicit exceptions for peace officers (as defined in section 626.84, subd. 1, par. (c)), and for federal law enforcement officers (as defined in section 626.77, subd. 3) when performing official duties.",
        "Allowance for concealment of identity in undercover operations and when necessary to preserve investigation integrity or officer safety, or when a tactical response team member's face mask significantly reduces the risk of serious permanent disfigurement."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.735 to modify the circumstances under which a person may conceal their identity in a public place and to create specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, including undercover operations and tactical response team members.",
      "modified": [
        "Amends the text of §609.735 to create carve-outs and specify exceptions to the general rule that concealing identity in public is a misdemeanor."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.735",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the peace officer exception in Minnesota Statutes for purposes of the new carve-outs in §609.735; the bill relies on this existing provision to define which officers are exempt from concealment penalties.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.84",
    "subdivision": "subd. 1, par. (c)"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the federal law enforcement officer definition used in the carve-outs in §609.735; the bill relies on this existing provision to grant exemptions for federal LEOs performing official duties.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.77",
    "subdivision": "subd. 3"
  }
]