SB284 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTING FIRST RESPONDERS.

Crime Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Buckson
Last action: 2026-04-21
Official status: Senate Judiciary 4/21/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies that violations are classified as a class A misdemeanor but does not provide further details on specific penalties beyond this classification.

Act to Protect First Responders

This act makes it illegal for people to cross barriers set by first responders during emergencies and approach within 25 feet of them after receiving a warning, with the intent to interfere with their work, threaten them, or harass them.

What This Bill Does

Makes it a crime to cross marked barriers established by first responders during emergencies.
Requires people to follow verbal warnings not to approach from first responders who are engaged in performing legal duties.
Prohibits approaching within 25 feet of a first responder after receiving a warning, if the intent is to interfere with their work, threaten them, or harass them.

Who It Names or Affects

First responders such as police officers, firefighters (both volunteer and paid), emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and fire police officers.
People who might ignore barriers or warnings from first responders during emergencies.

Terms To Know

first responder: A person like a police officer, firefighter (volunteer or paid), emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire police officer who helps in emergencies.
marked barrier: Something like cones or tape that shows an area is off-limits during an emergency.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone accidentally crosses a barrier without knowing it was there.
It's unclear how this act will be enforced in real-life situations.

Bill History

2026-04-21 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTING FIRST RESPONDERS.
This Act makes it a crime for any person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder, or, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder, with the intent to do any of the following:
(1) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s legal duty.
(2) Threaten the first responder with physical injury, serious physical injury, or death.
(3) Harass the first responder.

For purposes of this Act, a first responder means a law-enforcement officer, volunteer or paid firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire police officer.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Buckson & Rep. Dukes

Sens. Pettyjohn, Richardson, Wilson; Reps. Collins, Hilovsky, Morris, D. Short, Shupe, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 284

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTING FIRST RESPONDERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Subpart D, Subchapter VI, Chapter 5, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1244B. Impeding, interfering with, threatening, or harassing a first responder during performance of duties; class A misdemeanor.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “First responder” means all of the following:

a. A law-enforcement officer.

b. A volunteer firefighter or paid firefighter, as “volunteer fighter” and “paid firefighter” are defined under § 6701B of Title 18.

c. An emergency medical technician or paramedic, as “emergency medical technician” and “paramedic” are defined under § 6701B of Title 18.

d. A fire police officer, as “fire police” is defined under § 6701B of Title 18.

(2) “Harass” means to intentionally engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which serves no legitimate purpose and is in a manner which the person knows is likely to cause substantial emotional distress in that first responder.

(3) “Marked barrier” means a cone, tape, or other object used to restrict access to an area.

(b) It is unlawful for a person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder, or, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual who the person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly violate the first responder’s verbal warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder, with the intent to do any of the following:

(1) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s legal duty.

(2) Threaten the first responder with physical injury, serious physical injury, or death.

(3) Harass the first responder.

(d) The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a violation of this section.

Section 2. This Act is known as the “First State Emergency Response Act”.

SYNOPSIS

This Act makes it a crime for any person to either cross a marked barrier established by a first responder, or, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder, with the intent to do any of the following:

(1) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s legal duty.

(2) Threaten the first responder with physical injury, serious physical injury, or death.

(3) Harass the first responder.

For purposes of this Act, a first responder means a law-enforcement officer, volunteer or paid firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or fire police officer.

Author: Senator Buckson