RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

HB 2074 establishes a tiered penalty system for individuals who obstruct criminal investigations (hindering prosecution in the first degree). The bill sets fines and potential jail time that increase based on the severity of the original crime being obstructed - more serious underlying offenses lead to harsher penalties for the obstruction. It directly affects people who interfere with law enforcement during active criminal cases, such as by destroying evidence or intimidating witnesses. The bill is currently in early stages (pending introduction as of January 23, 2026) and has not yet been referred to a committee for review.