This bill proposes to amend current statutes by introducing a new offense titled "interfering with a religious service or religious activity." Under the new law, a person would commit this offense by intentionally obstructing another person's ability to enter or exit a place of religious worship or by making disruptive commotion, utterances, or displays during a religious service. The bill classifies this offense as a class 1 misdemeanor, with escalated penalties, including a class 6 felony for repeat offenders or those who use force or act in concert with others.

Additionally, the bill specifies exceptions to this offense, allowing for peaceful protests and actions taken by law enforcement or authorized personnel. It also provides definitions for key terms such as "obstructing, blocking or impeding," which refers to making passage difficult or hazardous, and "physical intimidation," which involves causing apprehension of physical harm. The definitions clarify the scope of the law and ensure that lawful expressive activities are not penalized. Overall, the bill aims to enhance protections for religious services while balancing the rights to free expression.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2931
House Engrossed Version: 13-2931
Senate Engrossed Version (06/10/2026): 13-2925