Sponsors (22)
The bill increases legal protections and enforcement to reduce disruptions at houses of worship but does so by creating civil penalties and broad remedies that may chill protest, impose financial burdens, and generate legal uncertainty.
Worshippers and religious organizations will have clearer legal protection against intentional disruptions at services and a practical civil remedy (including an option for $5,000 statutory damages per violation and enforcement by State/U.S. Attorneys General), making it easier to stop repeat offenders and improve safety and order during worship.
People engaging in protests or expressive activity near houses of worship risk being subject to civil penalties (including statutory damages and civil fines up to $10,000) and injunctions, which may chill lawful protest and speech.
Individuals and groups could face costly civil litigation—compensatory and punitive damages plus attorney fees—even where actual harm is minimal, creating significant financial risk for demonstrators and advocacy organizations.
Both congregations and demonstrators will face legal uncertainty because whether conduct is unlawful is judged by manner (volume, duration, pervasiveness), producing fact‑intensive, case‑by‑case determinations and likely inconsistent enforcement and litigation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it unlawful to knowingly disrupt or impede access to scheduled religious services near entryways within a defined time window and creates civil penalties, private suits, and AG enforcement.
Official title: To protect the right to the free exercise of religion.
Introduced August 6, 2026 by Brad Knott · Last progress August 6, 2026
Makes it illegal to knowingly disrupt or block access to scheduled religious services within 100 feet of any pedestrian or vehicle entry to a house of worship from one hour before until one hour after the service if the conduct substantially affects interstate commerce. The bill creates criminal/conspiracy prohibitions (knowing disruption or impeding), defines key terms, and forbids using content of speech to justify a disruption determination. It establishes civil penalties (tiered fines for first, second, and subsequent offenses), a private right of action and parallel enforcement by the Attorney General and State attorneys general with injunctive relief, damages, and fees, and an option to choose statutory damages per violation in lieu of actual damages. It also exempts houses of worship from any obligation to publish service schedules and includes a severability clause.