House Bill 2309 Summary

• Creates new crime of "violent or disorderly assembly" as a class 6 felony when seven or more persons acting together cause property damage or injury with intent to engage in riot or unlawful assembly.

• Elevates certain crimes to felonies when committed during violent or disorderly assembly, including aggravated assault on peace officers (minimum six months jail), criminal damage ($250+), obstruction of highways, public nuisance, aiming laser pointers at peace officers, and abuse of venerated objects.

• Amends aggravated assault statute to add two new class 6 felony provisions: assaulting a peace officer during violent or disorderly assembly, and assaulting using fireworks during such assembly.

• Modifies criminal damage statute to make damaging property worth $250-$1,000 a class 6 felony if occurring during violent or disorderly assembly instead of class 1 misdemeanor.

• Updates statutory language in abuse of venerated objects section regarding flag desecration and clarifies that such conduct is a class 6 felony when committed during violent or disorderly assembly.