| 1 | 1 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Judiciary, Division B By: Senator(s) England Senate Bill 2305 AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI HALO LAW FOR FIRST RESPONDERS; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON, AFTER RECEIVING A VERBAL WARNING NOT TO APPROACH FROM A FIRST RESPONDER TO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY APPROACH THE FIRST RESPONDER WITH THE INTENT TO IMPEDE OR INTERFERE WITH THE FIRST RESPONDER'S DUTY, THREATEN THE FIRST RESPONDER, OR HARASS THE FIRST RESPONDER; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; TO DEFINE TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) This law shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Halo Law for First Responders." (2) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within twenty-five (25) feet of the first responder with the intent to: (i) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty; (ii) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or (iii) Harass the first responder. (3) A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both. (4) As used in this section, the terms shall have the meaning herein ascribed: (a) "First responder" includes a law enforcement officer, a correctional probation officer, a firefighter, and an emergency medical care provider. (b) "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025. |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 Regular Session |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | To: Judiciary, Division B |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | By: Senator(s) England |
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| 10 | 10 | | |
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| 11 | 11 | | # Senate Bill 2305 |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI HALO LAW FOR FIRST RESPONDERS; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON, AFTER RECEIVING A VERBAL WARNING NOT TO APPROACH FROM A FIRST RESPONDER TO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY APPROACH THE FIRST RESPONDER WITH THE INTENT TO IMPEDE OR INTERFERE WITH THE FIRST RESPONDER'S DUTY, THREATEN THE FIRST RESPONDER, OR HARASS THE FIRST RESPONDER; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; TO DEFINE TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. (1) This law shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Halo Law for First Responders." |
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| 18 | 18 | | |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within twenty-five (25) feet of the first responder with the intent to: |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | (i) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty; |
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| 22 | 22 | | |
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| 23 | 23 | | (ii) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or |
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| 24 | 24 | | |
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| 25 | 25 | | (iii) Harass the first responder. |
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| 26 | 26 | | |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both. |
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| 28 | 28 | | |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) As used in this section, the terms shall have the meaning herein ascribed: |
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| 30 | 30 | | |
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| 31 | 31 | | (a) "First responder" includes a law enforcement officer, a correctional probation officer, a firefighter, and an emergency medical care provider. |
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| 32 | 32 | | |
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| 33 | 33 | | (b) "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose. |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025. |
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