A bill proposed by Alabama Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, which would make it a Class C felony to assault a journalist during the course of his or her work, took its first step toward passage last week.

Chestnut’s bill passed the House Judiciary Committee after an amendment was added, which would exclude a journalist who impeded with the work of a first responder while covering a story.

“We were able to get some bipartisan support,” Chestnut said. “I knew that was absolutely crucial.”

One of the bill’s co-sponsors is House Majority Leader Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, which Chestnut believes gives his bill a good chance of passing the Alabama House.

First, it has to go before the House Rules Committee, which will decide when and if the bill will be added to the House’s Special Order Calendar.

“If it’s something they don’t want to come up, it won’t come up,” Chestnut said.

Though Chestnut has had widespread support for the measure, he noted that there has been some resistance to his legislation from conservative colleagues in the House.

However, he is optimistic that the bill will get through.

“I really feel good about the tone of everything up there right now,” Chestnut said. “The leadership is working well together.”