By Trish Svoboda/Image courtesy Canva

A new bill in the Kansas Legislature would give more legal protections to law enforcement and first responders.

Senate Bill 452 would make it a crime to stay too close to a first responder, like a police officer or firefighter, while they are working if they’ve been told to step back. People could be charged if they ignore that warning and stay within 25 feet.

The bill also includes federal officers, such as FBI or ICE agents, under Kansas law for certain criminal and traffic rules. It makes clear that federal officers enforcing federal law in Kansas would be protected under the state’s law for government employee liability.

The bill has already passed a Senate committee and will continue moving through the Legislature.