Rep. Hannan, who once was a mask mandator, now tries to prevent lawmen from wearing masks

Feb. 10, 2026 – After pushing mask mandates, Democrat Rep. Sara Hannan now wants to criminalize masked police.

During the Covid pandemic, Hannan was among the lawmakers who insisted Alaskans comply with masking rules — supporting mandates that required ordinary citizens to cover their faces in the Capitol in the name of health and safety.

Now, the Juneau Democrat is sponsoring legislation that would make it a crime for peace officers to do the same.

Hannan’s House Bill 250 was heard Tuesday in the House State Affairs Committee. The measure would establish a new criminal offense for police officers who conceal their faces while interacting with the public in an official capacity.

The bill creates a new section of Alaska law: AS 11.56.880 — Wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer.

Under HB 250, a peace officer would commit a crime if, while performing official duties, the officer knowingly covers or conceals their face with a mask or disguise during public interactions.

The offense would be classified as a Class B misdemeanor.

The bill includes several exceptions, including officers who are:

• On undercover assignment

• Wearing protective face shields that do not obscure the face

• Wearing smoke-protection masks

• Wearing a medical mask or respirator — but only with documentation from a licensed physician stating it is necessary for the officer’s health

HB 250 raises questions because of the sharp reversal in political messaging from lawmakers who once demanded masking from the general public. In committee on Tuesday, it became apparent this bill is aimed at ICE officers, who are under federal control.

Rep. Kevin McCabe, speaking against the bill, noted, “In fact there is a study out there that says there’s thousand percent increase in the assaults on officers and their families in recent years due to doxxing and online identification. A thousand percent increase not only on officers and their families … Mostly because of social media online. The people identifying them don’t even have to be there at the protest, which is why officers are masking and hiding their identities.”