Committee approves 'Halo Act' to bar approaching first responders within 25 feet after warning

Representative Whit Robertson, the bill’s sponsor, told the House Judiciary Committee during its hearing that Senate Bill 268 — commonly described in testimony as the “Halo Act” — would create a specific offense for interfering with a first responder at an incident scene.

"After receiving a verbal warning ... and approaches or remains within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty, threaten the first responder with physical harm, or harass the first responder," Robertson said, describing language in the draft. Robertson characterized the offense as "a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature."

The bill defines "first responders" to include law enforcement, fire suppression and rescue…