Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 355 3
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By: Senator J. Bryant 5
By: Representative Underwood 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF OBSTRUCTING 9
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10
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Subtitle 13
TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF 14
OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS. 15
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 17
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 5-54-102 is amended to read as 19
follows: 20
5-54-102. Obstructing governmental operations. 21
(a) A person commits the offense of obstructing governmental 22
operations if the person: 23
(1) Knowingly obstructs, impairs, or hinders the performance of 24
any governmental function; 25
(2) Knowingly refuses to provide information requested by an 26
employee of a governmental agency relating to the investigation of a case 27
brought under Title IV -D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., 28
and is the physical custodian of the child in the case; 29
(3) Fails to submit to court -ordered scientific testing by a 30
noninvasive procedure to determine the paternity of a child in a case brought 31
under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.; or 32
(4) Falsely identifies himself or herself to a law enforcement 33
officer or a code enforcement officer ; or 34
(5) Having received personal service of a court -issued subpoena, 35
knowingly fails to appear to testify at a trial or court hearing . 36 SB355
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(b)(1) Obstructing governmental operations by using or threatening to 1
use physical force is a Class A misdemeanor. 2
(2) A second or subsequent offense of obstructing governmental 3
operations under subdivision (a)(4) of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. 4
(3) The offense of obstructing governmental operations under 5
subdivision (a)(5) of this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 6
(4) Otherwise, obstructing governmental operations is a Class C 7
misdemeanor. 8
(c) This section does not apply to: 9
(1) Unlawful flight by a person charged with an offense; 10
(2) Refusal to submit to arrest; 11
(3) Any means of avoiding compliance with the law not involving 12
affirmative interference with a governmental function unless specifically set 13
forth in this section; or 14
(4) Obstruction, impairment, or hindrance of what a person 15
reasonably believes is a public servant's unlawful action. 16
(d)(1) As used in this section, “code enforcement officer” means an 17
individual charged with the duty of enforcing a municipal code, municipal 18
ordinance, or municipal regulation as defined by a municipal code, municipal 19
ordinance, or municipal regulation. 20
(2) “Code enforcement officer” includes a municipal animal 21
control officer. 22
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