Georgia CommonsSenate · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 268: Offenses Against Public Order; crime of interference with a first responder; provide
Last action March 19, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A Georgia Senate bill would create a new crime for approaching or interfering with first responders after a warning, and would add step-grandparents and step-grandchildren to the state's incest law.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This bill changes two parts of Georgia's criminal code. First, it expands the incest statute (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22) so that sexual relations between a step-grandparent and step-grandchild count as incest, alongside existing blood and adopted grandparent-grandchild relationships. Second, it creates a brand new crime called interference with a first responder (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-46). A person commits this crime if, after a first responder such as a paramedic, firefighter, or police-affiliated rescuer tells them not to approach, they knowingly and willfully come within 25 feet of that responder anyway while intending to impede their work, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. The bill defines 'first responder' broadly to include anyone who provides on-site emergency care before an ambulance arrives, and defines 'harass' as conduct meant to cause substantial emotional distress with no legitimate purpose. Violating this new law is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, a more serious misdemeanor category under Georgia law.
What the bill does
- Adds step-grandparent and step-grandchild relationships to the list of family relationships covered by Georgia's incest law (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22).
- Creates a new crime, interference with a first responder, for approaching within 25 feet of a warned-off first responder with intent to impede, threaten, or harass them.
- Defines 'first responder' to include any person or agency giving on-site emergency care before an ambulance arrives, including those affiliated with police, fire, or rescue agencies.
- Defines 'harass' as willful conduct aimed at a first responder that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress and serves no legitimate purpose.
- Sets the penalty for the new interference crime as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, a harsher misdemeanor tier than a standard misdemeanor.
Who it affects
First responders such as paramedics, firefighters, and rescue workers who could invoke the new 25-foot warning rule; bystanders, protesters, or family members at emergency scenes who might be charged under it; and people with step-grandparent or step-grandchild relationships who would newly fall under the incest statute.
Why it matters
First responders would gain a legal tool to keep people at a distance during emergencies by issuing a verbal warning, and anyone who ignores that warning with intent to interfere, threaten, or harass could face a serious misdemeanor charge. The incest law change closes a gap for step-grandparent relationships that were not previously covered.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22(4) to add step-grandparent and step-grandchild to the relationships covered by the incest offense.
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 16-11-46, creating the crime of interference with a first responder.
- Subsection (a) defines 'first responder' and 'harass' for purposes of the new offense.
- Subsection (b) requires a prior verbal warning not to approach and sets the 25-foot boundary and the three intents (impede, threaten, harass) that trigger the crime.
- Subsection (c) sets the penalty as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
- Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder when he or she, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder”
“'Harass' means to willfully engage in any conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 19, 2026
From 0:10:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 268 would add step-grandparents to incest laws and protect first responders, including paramedics and firefighters, by giving them space to work without restricting citizens' First Amendment rights. A supporting witness said the House substitute targeted interference with responders' duties, threats of physical harm and harassment, rather than simply being nearby or recording. The witness contrasted this approach with laws challenged in Arizona and Louisiana. The witness said the substitute included a defense for someone unable to receive or understand a warning. Addressing concerns about the 25-foot distance, the witness said it would provide reaction time while still allowing people to observe, hear and record responders. The witness cited an incident involving people approaching officers handling a lit explosive and described concerns about crowds surrounding paramedics. The chair said earlier work had addressed First Amendment issues. No substantive questions or further amendments were offered. The committee approved the House substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 20, 2026
From 0:42:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 268 would address interference with first responders and included House-added incest provisions involving foster parents and step-grandparents. One committee member questioned whether broad definitions could criminalize a parent urgently seeking help, filming from 24 feet away, or approaching a first responder acting unlawfully. The sponsor said the first two examples would not be crimes and requested a more specific example of unlawful conduct. The sponsor said the bill protected filming and speech while preventing interference, and agreed to provide court cases from Arizona and Louisiana cited in support. A second member questioned the need for the bill and its definition of harassment as intentionally causing substantial emotional distress without a legitimate purpose. The sponsor said people could remain emotional, scream or yell if they stepped back when instructed and did not interfere. As an example of prohibited conduct, the sponsor described pulling at an officer or standing so close during an arrest that the officer felt threatened and unable to handcuff someone safely. No vote was recorded.
House Rules Committee, April 2, 2026
From 0:26:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the substitute removed an original section concerning incest because that language had passed in another piece of legislation. The presenter said the substitute also narrowed the obstruction provisions from first responders generally to law enforcement officers, creating a crime and penalty for obstruction with a moving or stationary motor vehicle. No questions were asked. A member objected to approving the substitute, but the chair announced approval after a voice vote. Later, a member objected to placing it on the second supplemental calendar. The chair announced that it was on the calendar after another voice vote. No vote totals were stated.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
Show full history (13 actions)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- John Albers (R, SD-56)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2025
38 yea, 17 nay (1 not voting, 0 excused)
Topics
- first responders
- public safety law
- misdemeanor penalties
- incest law
- emergency scenes