Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/20/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 355
4
5 By: Senator J. Bryant
6 By: Representative Underwood
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF OBSTRUCTING
10 GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF
15 OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.
16
17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 5-54-102 is amended to read as
20 follows:
21 5-54-102. Obstructing governmental operations.
22 (a) A person commits the offense of obstructing governmental
23 operations if the person:
24 (1) Knowingly obstructs, impairs, or hinders the performance of
25 any governmental function;
26 (2) Knowingly refuses to provide information requested by an
27 employee of a governmental agency relating to the investigation of a case
28 brought under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. � 651 et seq.,
29 and is the physical custodian of the child in the case;
30 (3) Fails to submit to court-ordered scientific testing by a
31 noninvasive procedure to determine the paternity of a child in a case brought
32 under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. � 651 et seq.; or
33 (4) Falsely identifies himself or herself to a law enforcement
34 officer or a code enforcement officer; or
35 (5) Having received in person service of a subpoena issued by a
36 judge or a court clerk, knowingly fails to appear to testify at a trial or
*CEB196* 03-20-2025 09:44:50 CEB196
As Engrossed: S3/20/25 SB355
1 court hearing in a criminal matter.
2 (b)(1) Obstructing governmental operations by using or threatening to
3 use physical force is a Class A misdemeanor.
4 (2) A second or subsequent offense of obstructing governmental
5 operations under subdivision (a)(4) of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
6 (3) The offense of obstructing governmental operations under
7 subdivision (a)(5) of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
8 (4) Otherwise, obstructing governmental operations is a Class C
9 misdemeanor.
10 (c) This section does not apply to:
11 (1) Unlawful flight by a person charged with an offense;
12 (2) Refusal to submit to arrest;
13 (3) Any means of avoiding compliance with the law not involving
14 affirmative interference with a governmental function unless specifically set
15 forth in this section; or
16 (4) Obstruction, impairment, or hindrance of what a person
17 reasonably believes is a public servant's unlawful action.
18 (d)(1) As used in this section, "code enforcement officer" means an
19 individual charged with the duty of enforcing a municipal code, municipal
20 ordinance, or municipal regulation as defined by a municipal code, municipal
21 ordinance, or municipal regulation.
22 (2) "Code enforcement officer" includes a municipal animal
23 control officer.
24
25 /s/J. Bryant
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2 03-20-2025 09:44:50 CEB196Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.