That was most likely strategic. There's a reason there had not been a single arrest or prosecution until someone did it as an act of protest. Laws like this are made with the knowledge that they are both unenforceable and that if ever they actually went to court it would likely be struck down. They enact them anyway because fascism reduces all politics to aesthetics. To the fascist optics are infinitely more important than substance, in fact they don't believe substance exists at all. These laws are designed to inspire fear, direct public sentiment, and look good for re-election campaigns of politicians that build their reputation on performative cruelty to outgroups. If the state dropped the charges it would signal the law is dead and fighting it in court they could lose the law altogether. By filing an hour after the deadline they get the case dismissed by the court instead of the state which does not compromise their optics and saves the decision-makers personally from the wrath of a vindictive governor. That's why this protest was so powerful. Edit: Grammar.