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SB293 • 2026
Criminal law; crime of interference with a first responder, established
Criminal law; crime of interference with a first responder, established
Crime
Healthcare
Labor
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
- Sponsor
- Weaver
- Last action
- 2026-04-07
- Official status
- Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide detailed information on enforcement mechanisms or specific examples of prohibited behavior, leaving these aspects uncertain.
Making it a Crime to Interfere with First Responders
This bill makes it illegal for someone to interfere with first responders after being told not to do so, and sets penalties for such actions.
What This Bill Does
- Defines 'first responder' as including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers.
- Makes it a crime if someone approaches or stays within 25 feet of a first responder after getting an order not to do so, and then impedes the responder's work, threatens them with harm, or touches them in a harmful way.
- States that interfering with a first responder is considered a Class A misdemeanor offense.
Who It Names or Affects
- First responders like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers.
- People who might interfere with these workers after getting instructions not to do so.
Terms To Know
- first responder
- A person such as a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical worker who helps in emergencies and dangerous situations.
- Class A misdemeanor
- The most serious type of misdemeanor crime that can result in jail time and fines.
Limits and Unknowns
- This bill has been passed by the legislature but was indefinitely postponed, so it may not become a law as written.
- It is not clear how this law will be enforced or what specific actions might lead to charges.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: PSA96GE-1 : 2/27/2026 : CMH
1ST JUDICIARY AMENDMENT TO SB293
OFFERED BY SENATOR WEAVER
Page 1
Replace line 41 on page 2 with the following:
(c) For purposes of this section, the newsgathering
activities of a bona fide news organization shall not be
considered actions that impede or interfere with a first
responder.
- PSA96GE-1 : 2/27/2026 : CMH
1ST JUDICIARY AMENDMENT TO SB293
OFFERED BY SENATOR WEAVER
Page 1
Replace line 41 on page 2 with the following:
(c) For purposes of this section, the newsgathering
activities of a bona fide news organization shall not be
considered actions that impede or interfere with a first
responder.
- For purposes of this subsection, a "bona fide
news organization" includes a radio or television
broadcasting station operating with a license or other
authorization issued by the Federal Communications
Commission which routinely broadcasts via television, the
Internet, or another electronic manner, as a part of its
programming, news and commentary in newscasts, news
interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage
of bona fide news events.
- (d) Interference with a first responder is a Class A
Replace line 43 on page 2 with the following:
(e) This section does not apply to the obstruction,
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- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Bill History
-
2026-04-07
Senate
Currently Indefinitely Postponed
-
2026-03-19
Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
-
2026-03-19
Senate
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
-
2026-03-19
Senate
Judiciary 1st Amendment
-
2026-02-12
Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
-
2026-02-12
Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Official Summary Text
Criminal law; crime of interference with a first responder, established
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB293 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB293
YMWY322-1
By Senator Weaver
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 12-Feb-26
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YMWY322-1 02/11/2026 CMH (L)CMH 2026-810
Page 1
First Read: 12-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would establish the crime of
interference with a first responder when, after
receiving a lawful order to not interfere with the
performance of a first responder's duties, the person
approaches or remains within 25 feet of the first
responder and impedes, threatens, or otherwise harasses
the first responder.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to crimes and offenses; to add Section
13A-10-2.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to establish the crime
of interference with a first responder; and to provide
criminal penalties for a violation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 13A-10-2.1 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§13A-10-2.1
(a) As used in this section, the term "first responder"
means a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency
medical services personnel.
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SB293 INTRODUCED
Page 2
medical services personnel.
(b) A person commits the crime of interference with a
first responder if, after receiving instruction to not
approach or to vacate the area from a first responder engaged
in a lawful government function, the person: (i) approaches or
remains within 25 feet of the first responder, and (ii) does
any of the following:
(1) Impedes or interferes with the first responder's
ability to perform his or her duties.
(2) Threatens the first responder with physical harm.
(3) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches the
first responder, or subjects the first responder to physical
contact.
(d) Interference with a first responder is a Class A
misdemeanor.
(d) This section does not apply to the obstruction,
impairment, or hindrance of the making of an arrest.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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