1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; making it a crime to obstruct certain first responders by
1.3 approaching or remaining too closely after being warned; amending Minnesota
1.4 Statutes 2024, section 609.50, subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Crime.(a) Whoever intentionally does any of the following may be
1.8sentenced as provided in subdivision 2:
1.9 (1) obstructs, hinders, or prevents the lawful execution of any legal process, civil or
1.10criminal, or apprehension of another on a charge or conviction of a criminal offense;
1.11 (2) obstructs, resists, or interferes with a peace officer while the officer is engaged in
1.12the performance of official duties;
1.13 (3) interferes with or obstructs a firefighter while the firefighter is engaged in the
1.14performance of official duties;
1.15 (4) interferes with or obstructs a member of an ambulance service personnel crew, as
1.16defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3a, who is providing, or attempting to provide,
1.17emergency care; or
1.18 (5) by force or threat of force endeavors to obstruct any employee of the Department of
1.19Revenue, Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division, a driver's
1.20license agent appointed under section 171.061, or a deputy registrar appointed under section
1.21168.33 while the employee is lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties for the
1.22purpose of deterring or interfering with the performance of those duties.
1Section 1.
REVISOR KLL/DG 25-0431502/25/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2173
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Engen, Stier, Novotny, Schultz and Bakeberg03/12/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy 2.1 (b) It is a crime punishable as provided in subdivision 2 for someone to approach or
2.2remain within 25 feet of a person described in paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (4):
2.3 (1) while knowing or having reason to know of the person's status and that the person
2.4is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty;
2.5 (2) after having received a verbal warning from the person not to approach; and
2.6 (3) with the intent to impede or interfere with the person's ability to perform the legal
2.7duty.
2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
2.9committed on or after that date.
2Section 1.
REVISOR KLL/DG 25-0431502/25/25