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Committee holds public hearing on bill creating offense for interference with first responders; members debate scope and free-speech limits
Summary
The committee conducted a public hearing on HB2024, which would make interference with first responders a class A misdemeanor, generally prohibiting approaching within 25 feet after a lawful order. Witnesses testified both for and against the bill; lawmakers signaled plans to work on narrowing language addressing abusive speech.
The Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a public hearing on HB2024, a bill that would create the crime of interference with a first responder. Sponsor Representative Treadaway explained the bill would prohibit approaching or remaining within 25 feet of a first responder after a lawful order and would make specified conduct a class A misdemeanor.
Representative Treadaway told the committee the measure was prompted by concerns raised by the State Fraternal Order of Police and others and that it was intended to protect first responders — including police and firefighters — from interference while performing lawful duties. He described the 25-foot warning, a subsequent warning to vacate the area and a set of prohibited behaviors that would support arrest after…
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