Committee hears testimony on bill making interference with places of worship a gross misdemeanor

Substitute Senate Bill 54‑36 would create a new criminal offense for willfully or recklessly interfering with access to a place of worship, the House Community Safety Committee heard March 26 during a virtual public hearing.

The bill, summarized for the committee by Lena Langer, staff to the committee, would bar actions such as physically obstructing ingress or egress immediately before, during, or after religious services; trespassing on the place of worship or its common areas; repeated electronic or telephone communications that harass the facility; and threats against attendees or property. The proposal classifies the offense as a gross misdemeanor and would permit aggrieved persons and religious organizations to seek civil damages, costs and attorney fees, and daily statutory damages in specified amounts.

Why it matters: Proponents said the measure fills a gap in state law for protecting…