Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to obstructing first responders, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Rep. Brett Barker (R), Rep. David L. Blom (R), Rep. Jane Bloomingdale (R), Rep. Brooke Boden (R), Rep. Dr. Steven P. Bradley (R), Rep. Taylor R. Collins (R), Rep. Tom Determann (R), Rep. Samantha Fett (R), Rep. Dean Fisher (R), Rep. Jason Gearhart (R), Rep. Dan Gehlbach (R), Rep. Thomas Gerhold (R), Rep. Bob Henderson (R), Rep. Christian A. Hermanson (R), Rep. Steven C. Holt (R), Rep. Chad Ingels (R), Rep. Thomas M. Jeneary (R), Rep. Wendy Larson (R), Rep. Shannon Latham (R), Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R), Rep. Ann Meyer (R), Rep. Thomas Jay Moore (R), Rep. Carter F. Nordman (R), Rep. Travis M. Sitzmann (R), Rep. Jennifer J. Smith (R), Rep. Henry Stone (R), Rep. Mike Vondran (R), Rep. Blaine C. Watkins (R), Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R), Rep. Hans C. Wilz (R), Rep. Devon Wood (R), Rep. David E. Young (R)
Topics:Crime & correctionsPublic safety & emergencies
Same legislation: HF 2751
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedMarch 2, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeMarch 4, 2026
- Done: House committeeMarch 25, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2751
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 2751 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2751 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who ignore a verbal warning from a first responder and continue to get close to them can face criminal charges. This law applies if a person approaches a responder with the intent to interfere with their work, threaten them, or harass them. Violating this rule is a serious misdemeanor that can lead to jail time and fines.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to obstructing first responders. The bill prohibits a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual the person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, from knowingly and willfully violating the warning and approaching or remaining within feet of the first responder with the intent to impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s duty; threaten the first responder with physical harm; or harass the first responder. A person violating the bill commits a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
Changed since by amendments H-8276, H-8275; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named March 4, 2026. On March 10, 2026 it recommended amendment and passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: March 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill creates a new criminal offense for obstructing a first responder, modifies penalties for assaults against certain occupations, and establishes confidentiality protections for peer support communications. The fiscal impact cannot be determined because the number of new convictions is unknown. The average state cost per serious misdemeanor is estimated to be between $350 and $6,200 for the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the Department of Corrections.3
From the note: The fiscal impact for House File 2751 cannot be determined because the number of new convictions is unknown. The average State cost per serious misdemeanor is between $350 and $6,200. This includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
- Active Emergency Scenes, Bystander Distance · April 7, 2026 · $6,200
- Active Emergency Scences, Bystander Distance · March 31, 2026 · $6,200
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91st General Assembly