Bill Summary — SB 25-060
Title: Repeated Phone Calls Obstruction of Government Operations
Status: Governor Signed (2025-04-17)
Introduced: January 21, 2025
What the bill is (purpose and intent)
The bill, by its title, is intended to address situations in which a person makes repeated telephone calls with the effect or purpose of obstructing, interfering with, delaying, or otherwise impairing government operations. The stated policymaking aim (as implied by the title) is to reduce disruptive or harassing phone activity that prevents government bodies or personnel from performing official duties.
Note: The full statutory text of the enacted bill was not provided. The summary below reports available procedural details and describes likely types of provisions such a bill would contain. For exact language, penalties, and definitions consult the enacted statute (SB 25-060) on the official legislative website.
Legislative actions (key dates)
- Introduced in Senate, assigned to Judiciary: 2025-01-21
- Senate Committee hearings and readings, passed (with amendments in committee): February 2025
- House consideration and passage (no amendments): March–April 2025
- Sent to Governor: 2025-04-07
- Signed by Governor: 2025-04-17
Sponsors
Primary sponsors include Dylan Roberts, Marc Catlin, Ryan Armagost, and Chad Clifford. The bill has many cosponsors from both chambers (list available in the bill header).
Likely key provisions (based on bill title — confirm with text)
Because the bill text was not supplied, the items below are typical elements such legislation would include; they should be verified against the enacted law:
- A prohibition against making repeated telephone calls to government agencies or officials that are intended to, or which do in fact, obstruct or impair government operations (definition of "repeated" and of "obstruct" provided in statute).
- Definitions (e.g., "government operations," "public official," "repeated calls," "intent," and exceptions).
- Mens rea requirement (intentional or knowing conduct) or standards for reckless/knowing conduct.
- Specified penalties (criminal classification such as misdemeanor or felony, fines, and/or imprisonment) and possible civil remedies.
- Exceptions or safe harbors (e.g., emergency reporting, bona fide constituents contacting representatives, media reporting, lawful advocacy).
- Enforcement mechanisms (which agencies prosecute, jurisdictional rules).
- Possible provisions for restitution, diversion, or sentencing alternatives.
Who would be affected
- Government employees, agencies, and public-facing offices (dispatch, permitting, legislative offices) that receive and process telephone contacts.
- Individuals who place repeated calls (including activists, harassers, or callers making nuisance calls).
- Law enforcement and prosecution agencies tasked with enforcing the statute.
- Civil liberties and free-speech stakeholders who may raise concerns about definition and scope.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Could reduce harassment and operational disruption of government offices and emergency services.
- May raise constitutional issues around protected speech and public participation depending on statutory scope, definitions, and intent requirement.
- Enforcement practices, prosecutorial discretion, and exceptions will shape actual effects on civic engagement.
Next steps / where to find the full text
The bill was signed into law on April 17, 2025. For the precise operative language, effective date, penalty structure, and any transitional provisions, consult the official enacted statute (SB 25-060) on the legislature’s website or the office of the Secretary of State.
