The bill amends South Dakota's existing law regarding the prevention of religious practices. Specifically, it modifies Section 22-19B-4 to increase the penalty for individuals who intentionally prevent another person from performing lawful acts associated with their religion. The language change replaces the term "threats" with "threat" and clarifies that the person being prevented is the one who professes the religion in question.

Additionally, the bill escalates the severity of the offense from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony. This change reflects a stronger legal stance against actions that infringe upon the practice of religion, aiming to provide greater protection for individuals exercising their religious rights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/22/2026: 22-19B-4