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; increasing the criminal 
1.4 	penalty for assaulting a firefighter, EMS personnel, or certain health care providers;
1.5 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 609.2231, subdivision 2; 609.50, 
1.6 	subdivision 1.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.2231, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subd. 2.Firefighters and emergency medical personnel. (a) Except as provided in 
1.10 	paragraph (b), whoever physically assaults any of the following persons and inflicts 
1.11 	demonstrable bodily harm is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for 
1.12 	not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $4,000, or both gross 
1.13 	misdemeanor:
1.14 	(1) either:
1.15 	(i) a member of a municipal or volunteer fire department in the performance of the 
1.16 	member's duties; or
1.17 	(ii) a member of an emergency medical services personnel unit in the performance of 
1.18 	the member's duties; or
1.19 	(2) a physician, nurse, or other person providing health care services in a hospital 
1.20 	emergency department.
1.21 	(b) Whoever physically assaults a person described in paragraph (a), clause (1) or (2), 
1.22 	is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years 
2.1 	or to payment of a fine of not more than $6,000, or both, if the assault inflicts demonstrable 
2.2 	bodily harm.

2.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes 
2.4 	committed on or after that date.

2.5 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.6 		Subdivision 1.Crime. (a) Whoever intentionally does any of the following may be 
2.7 	sentenced as provided in subdivision 2:
2.8 	(1) obstructs, hinders, or prevents the lawful execution of any legal process, civil or 
2.9 	criminal, or apprehension of another on a charge or conviction of a criminal offense;
2.10 	(2) obstructs, resists, or interferes with a peace officer while the officer is engaged in 
2.11 	the performance of official duties;
2.12 	(3) interferes with or obstructs a firefighter while the firefighter is engaged in the 
2.13 	performance of official duties;
2.14 	(4) interferes with or obstructs a member of an ambulance service personnel crew, as 
2.15 	defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3a, who is providing, or attempting to provide, 
2.16 	emergency care; or
2.17 	(5) by force or threat of force endeavors to obstruct any employee of the Department of 
2.18 	Revenue, Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division, a driver's 
2.19 	license agent appointed under section 171.061, or a deputy registrar appointed under section 
2.20 	168.33 while the employee is lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties for the 
2.21 	purpose of deterring or interfering with the performance of those duties.
2.22 	(b) It is a crime punishable as provided in subdivision 2 for someone to approach or 
2.23 	remain within 25 feet of a person described in paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (4):
2.24 	(1) while knowing or having reason to know of the person's status and that the person 
2.25 	is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty;
2.26 	(2) after having received a verbal warning from the person not to approach; and
2.27 	(3) with the intent to impede or interfere with the person's ability to perform the legal 
2.28 	duty.

2.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes 
2.30 	committed on or after that date.