Senate passes measure tightening penalties for willful disruption of religious worship; opponents cite free-speech concerns

The Oklahoma Senate passed Senate Bill 743 on third reading, amending a longstanding statute that criminalizes willfully disturbing, interrupting or disquieting assemblies met for religious worship and adding clarifications about demonstrations and permits within a one-mile radius of a meeting.

Senator Galahari, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure modernizes a law that dates to before statehood and is aimed at preventing threats, blocked access and disruptions that would interfere with worship. ‘‘Freedom to worship, free of the fear that you will be harassed, intimidated, or bullied is a foundational right,’’ Galahari said during floor remarks.

Debate was robust and divided. Supporters emphasized protecting congregants’ safety and the ability to worship without ambush-style demonstrations; they said advance notice to houses of worship and local authorities gives law enforcement time to plan crowd and traffic control. Opponents, including Senator Jett and Senator Devers, described the measure as overly broad and warned that permitting and the one-mile scope could chill constitutionally protected speech and assembly if applied widely; some senators argued the change effectively hands regulators new tools that could be used to limit protest activity.

The author and supporters countered that the statute requires intent — the person must “willfully” disturb worship — and said ordinary protests not aimed at disrupting services are not the bill’s target. Several senators noted the distance language and permitting element derive from existing statutory language and from longstanding practice, and the sponsor said the one-mile phrase is in earlier law. After debate and amendment activity on the floor, the Senate adopted the measure and recorded a roll-call vote; the chair announced the bill passed 43-4 and was treated as an emergency measure.

The bill’s passage does not itself change permitting procedure statewide; it creates criminal penalties tied to willful disruption and references licensing by proper authority for activities that obstruct roads or block access, which local governments typically administer. Legal observers and free-speech advocates are likely to review the enacted text during House consideration and in possible post-enactment challenges.