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10/09/2025

Senate Bill 188

Lead Sponsors: Senator Tom Patton

Status: Introduced (April 29, 2025)

Description: The bill expands the offense of failure to comply with an order or signal of a law enforcement officer to apply to an individual who takes a position in a physical location that prevents access by law enforcement officers if the individual knows the officer is attempting to apprehend them in connection with a felony offense or violent misdemeanor.

Generally, the offense is a felony of the third degree, but the offense is heightened to a felony of the second degree and requires mandatory prison terms if any of the following apply:

  • The violation creates a risk of serious physical harm to any person;

  • The individual indicates they have a deadly weapon; or

  • A third party is present and unable to immediately and safely leave the physical location.

    • In this circumstance, if the third party is a minor or an individual aged 65 or older, the offense is a felony of the first degree and carries a mandatory prison term.

Assisting an individual in committing this offense is also a felony, generally one felony level lesser than that of the individual committing the offense.

CCAO Position: No position (as of October 2025)

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