HB 1817 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for the offense of interfering or impeding a first responder's duties.

PRINTER'S NO.     2236

                        THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                            HOUSE BILL
                            No. 1817
                                                   Session of
                                                     2025

     INTRODUCED BY HAMM, STENDER, SMITH, GROVE, RAPP, GILLEN,
        K.HARRIS, KOZAK AND WATRO, AUGUST 21, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, AUGUST 22, 2025


                                        AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental
 3      operations, providing for the offense of interfering or
 4      impeding a first responder's duties.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7         Section 1.    Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 5113.      Interfering or impeding a first responder's duties.
10         (a)   Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if, after
11   receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person who the
12   person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder
13   engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, the person
14   knowingly and willfully violates the warning and approaches or
15   remains within 15 feet of the first responder with the intent
16   to:
17               (1)   interfere, impede or otherwise obstruct the first
18         responder's ability to perform the first responder's duty;
19               (2)   threaten the first responder with physical harm,
 1      including a terroristic threat as described under section
 2      2706 (relating to terroristic threats); or
 3            (3)   harass the first responder.
 4      (b)   Grading.--
 5            (1)   A first offense under this section shall constitute
 6      a misdemeanor of the third degree.
 7            (2)   A second or subsequent offense under this section
 8      shall constitute a misdemeanor of the second degree.
 9      (c)   Constitution.--Nothing in this section may be construed
10   to prohibit, limit or punish conduct that is otherwise protected
11   by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States
12   or the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
13      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
14   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
15   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
16      "First responder."    Includes:
17            (1)   A peace officer as defined under section 501
18      (relating to definitions).
19            (2)   A firefighter.
20            (3)   Emergency services personnel as defined under
21      section 5112(b) (relating to obstructing emergency services).
22      "Harass."    To willfully engage in a course of conduct within
23   15 feet of a first responder which intentionally causes
24   emotional distress to the first responder and serves no
25   legitimate purpose.
26      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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