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HB2811 • 2026

obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest

HB2811 - obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest

Crime
Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
John Gillette, Leo Biasiucci, Joseph Chaplik, Lisa Fink, Matt Gress, Rachel Keshel, Steve Montenegro, James Taylor, Michael Way, Julie Willoughby
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Governor vetoed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the governor, so it is currently not law.

Lawful Arrest and Obstruction of Governmental Operations

This bill amends the law on obstructing governmental operations to include interfering with a lawful arrest as a felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the definition of 'obstructing governmental operations' to add interfering with a lawful arrest as a crime.
  • Makes it a class 5 felony (a serious crime) to interfere with a lawful arrest.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who might try to stop police from making an arrest.

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can lead to a long prison sentence.
Misdemeanor
A less serious crime with shorter jail time or fines as punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was vetoed by the governor, so it is not currently law.
  • It does not specify what happens if someone tries to stop a police officer from making an arrest but does not use violence.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted

Plain English: NM 2/20/2026 (602) 926-3848 ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff HB 2811: obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest GILLETTE FLOOR AMENDMENT 1.

  • NM 2/20/2026 (602) 926-3848 ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff HB 2811: obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest GILLETTE FLOOR AMENDMENT 1.
  • Removes conflicting language that excludes interference with the making of an arrest from the definition of obstructing governmental operations.
  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Gillette Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2811 GILLETTE FLOOR AMENDMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 V

    Governor vetoed

  2. 2026-04-08 House

    Transmitted to House

  3. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  4. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  5. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  6. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  7. 2026-03-23 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  8. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  9. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  10. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP

  11. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate first read

  12. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  13. 2026-02-26 House

    House third read passed

  14. 2026-02-25 House

    House committee of the whole

  15. 2026-02-24 House

    House minority caucus

  16. 2026-02-24 House

    House majority caucus

  17. 2026-02-23 House

    House consent calendar

  18. 2026-01-26 House

    House second read

  19. 2026-01-22 House

    House Rules: C&P

  20. 2026-01-22 House

    House Public Safety & Law Enforcement: DP

  21. 2026-01-22 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2811 - obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2811 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

obstructing
governmental operations; lawful arrest

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2811

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-2402, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be
it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 13-2402, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-2402.

Obstructing governmental operations; classification

A. A person commits obstructing governmental
operations if, by using or threatening to use violence or physical force,
such

the
person knowingly obstructs,
impairs or hinders:

1. The performance of a governmental function by a
public servant acting under color of his official authority; or

2. The enforcement of the penal law or the
preservation of the peace by a peace officer acting under color of his official
authority
; or
.

3. The making of a lawful arrest.

B. This section does not apply to the obstruction,
impairment or hinderance of the making of an arrest.

C.

B.

Obstructing governmental
operations pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3
of this
section is a class 5 felony.
Obstructing governmental
operations
pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2

of this section
is a class 1 misdemeanor.
END_STATUTE