SB 1640 Summary

• Local law enforcement agencies and the Department of Public Safety must provide body-worn cameras to each peace officer who has public contact, with compliance required by July 1, 2025.

• Peace officers must activate body-worn or dash cameras when responding to calls for service or during public contacts initiated to enforce laws or investigate violations, with limited exceptions for undercover work, court proceedings, and certain jail operations.

• Failure to activate or tampering with cameras creates a permissive inference of misconduct in investigations and administrative proceedings, and creates a rebuttable presumption against admissibility of officer statements in prosecutions if the incident was not recorded.

• Intentional camera deactivation or tampering results in discipline up to termination, certification suspension for at least one year, or permanent certification revocation if related to a civilian death, unless the officer is exonerated by court.

• Video recordings of misconduct complaints must be released to the public within 21 days, with redactions permitted for privacy interests including nudity, medical information, minors, and victims, but unredacted footage requires victim consent; release may be delayed up to 45 days if an active investigation would be jeopardized.