NC HALO law would protect 1st responders and 1st Amendment

Every day, North Carolinians rely on our brave first-responders — law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS crews — to run toward danger so we can be safe. Whether it’s a crash on I-40, a residential fire in Raleigh, a rural EMS call in the mountains, or along the Outer Banks after a hurricane, these professionals often find themselves working in unstable, hazardous, and unpredictable conditions. Yet our laws do not always give them the space and protections they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.  

That’s why the HALO law concept is so compelling: It creates a mandatory “safe zone” — for example, a 25-foot buffer — around active first-responder operations, with legal penalties for individuals who refuse a warning and interfere. In Florida, the law took effect Jan. 1, 2025, and requires people to keep at least 25 feet from law-enforcement officers, EMS, and firefighters when they are working an emergency scene. “HALO” stands for “Honoring and Listening to Our Officers,” per Florida’s version.  

The key provision of Florida’s “HALO” law, besides the 25-foot buffer zone, is that a verbal warning is required to move back before they can be charged with violating the law. A person who ignores the verbal warning can face a second-degree misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. The intent of this law is to target individuals who intentionally impede, threaten, or harass LEOs and/or first responders within the zone after being verbally warned. Florida’s new law does not infringe on a person’s first amendment right to free speech. A person is allowed to record the duties being performed by LEOs and first responders, they must do so from at least a 25-foot distance or more.  

Enter NC Sen. Chris Measmer, a Republican representing Cabarrus County, who has just filed Senate Bill 985, HALO Law, which has the same 25-foot buffer and verbal-warning requirements as the Florida law. The bill was just read-in and sent to Senate Rules Committee, so we’ll have to see whether the chamber’s leadership will advance it through the legislative process.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case Sharpe v. Winterville that a person has a First Amendment right to free speech regarding the recording/livestreaming of LEOs while in the performance of their duties. If a HALO law were implemented in the state of North Carolina, it will not in any way infringe a person’s First Amendment rights to free speech, and/or to record/livestream LEOs and/or first responders in the performance of their duties. So, one could record/livestream LEOs, first responders, and EMS personnel, if they do it at 25-foot and beyond.  

HALO Laws in Other States 

Tennessee passed a similar “buffer Law” in 2025, which allows law enforcement to create a 25-foot zone around certain scenes, even if no safety risk is present. The zone can be established at a traffic stop, crime scene, or any other “ongoing and immediate threat to public safety.”

Indiana passed a law in 2023 making it a misdemeanor to knowingly approach within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer after an order to stop. After being challenged as “unconstitutionally vague,” a revised version requiring a “reasonable belief” of interference was passed.

As of May 2025, Massachusetts lawmakers were considering a bill with a similar 25-foot buffer zone.

Louisiana enacted a 300-foot buffer-zone law around military funerals in response to protests.

Some police departments and municipalities have policies regarding blocking off scenes with tape or restricting entry. However, there does not seem to be a specific distance indicated in this state. A federal judge blocked a similar state law that would have created a 25-foot buffer zone around police.  

In 2025, South Carolina officials began backing a bill called the “HALO Act,” (“Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction,”) which was designed to increase safety for first responders. The proposed legislation would require bystanders to stay at least 25 feet away from first responders when asked, with violations resulting in a fine and potential arrest.

In 2022, Arizona passed a bill (HB 2319) that made it illegal to record police officers from within 8 feet. A federal judge later blocked the law, citing First Amendment concerns.

It does not appear Georgia has similar “HALO” or buffer-zone laws. However, authorities and lawmakers have been aware of and discussed Florida’s legislation.

The Commonwealth of Virginia does not have a comparable law.  

A HALO-style statute in North Carolina would be a targeted, low-cost fix complementing existing laws and reducing ambiguity for both the public and first responders.  

It’s time for the General Assembly to start the conversation. North Carolina should consider a proposal like Measmer’s and pass a Halo law that prioritizes safety, respect, and effectiveness. Our first responders deserve nothing less — and all of us will be safer for it.  

“NC HALO law would protect 1st responders and 1st Amendment” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.