Sponsors (5)
Makes it a federal crime to knowingly enter or remain within a marked 15-foot protective zone around deployed National Guard members with intent to impede, punishable by fines or imprisonment.
The bill strengthens protection and accountability for deployed National Guard members by creating a 15-foot protective zone and penalties, but it expands federal criminal exposure in ways that could chill nearby lawful protest and increase federal enforcement costs.
National Guard members on deployment are better protected because a posted 15-foot zone around them makes it a federal offense to intentionally intimidate or interfere at close range, reducing immediate risk during mobilizations.
People who assault or intentionally interfere with Guard members face clearer federal penalties (fines and jail time, with higher penalties for assaults such as touching or spitting), increasing accountability and deterrence.
Lawful protest and speech are explicitly preserved outside the posted protective zone, making clear that First Amendment activity away from the immediate area remains protected.
People physically near Guard deployments (including bystanders and protesters) risk new federal criminal exposure for entering within 15 feet—even inadvertently—if prosecutors allege intent to impede or intimidate.
The required "intent" element could be interpreted broadly, risking prosecutions and chilling of lawful speech and protest near deployments despite the outside-zone protection.
Expanding federal criminal law over these incidents increases the potential for more federal prosecutions and incarceration, raising enforcement and incarceration costs borne by taxpayers and shifting matters that might otherwise be handled locally to the federal system.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal penalties for interfering with National Guard protective zones.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Sheri Biggs · Last progress March 12, 2026
Creates a new federal criminal offense that makes it illegal, during a Title 10 or Title 32 deployment, to knowingly enter or remain inside a marked “protective zone” (up to 15 feet) around a National Guard member with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with their official duties. Penalties include a fine, up to 1 year imprisonment (or up to 5 years if the offender makes physical contact, throws an object at, or spits on the Guard member); lawful, protected activity conducted outside the posted zone is preserved.