Arizona House bill by Rep. Bolick clarifies conditions for obstructing governmental operations

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Shawnna Bolick seeks to clarify when a person commits obstructing governmental operations by knowingly hindering public servants or peace officers using or threatening violence, excluding arrests, according to the Arizona State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of April 15, clearing the House by a vote of 31-21 and the Senate by a vote of 16-11.

The bill, introduced as SB1721 on Feb. 3, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘technical correction; obstructing governmental operations’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends Section 13-2402 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to clarify the conditions under which a person commits the offense of obstructing governmental operations. Specifically, it states that a person is guilty if they knowingly obstruct, impair or hinder a governmental function performed by a public servant or the enforcement of penal law by a peace officer, using or threatening violence or physical force. The bill explicitly excludes obstruction related to making an arrest and classifies obstructing governmental operations as a class 1 misdemeanor.

In the House, 31 Republicans voted in favor while 21 Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 16 Republicans voted in favor while 11 Democrats voted against it.

Bolick introduced the bill in the Arizona Senate on Feb. 3 during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature.

Bolick graduated from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1997 with a BA.

Shawnna Bolick is currently serving in the Arizona State Senate, representing the state’s 2nd Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Steve Kaiser in 2023.

The bill was vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 18.

In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.