Committee approves amended bill to let churches remove disruptive protesters and grants limited civil immunity
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Summary
HB 294 would let churches and other places of worship remove disruptive individuals, permit reasonable force in narrowly defined circumstances, and provide limited civil immunity to persons lawfully on premises; committee adopted clarifying amendments and approved the measure on a roll call (yeas 10, nays 2) after heated debate over First Amendment scope and outdoor spaces.
Chair Furman presented HB 294 to define protections for churches and other places of worship. The sponsor said the bill is meant to preserve sanctuaries and give lawful occupants a clear mechanism to remove disruptive individuals and, in limited circumstances, use reasonable force.
Proponents — including Jean Mills of the Louisiana Family Forum and Wade Doody (attorney and firearms instructor) — cited recent violent intrusions at other states’ churches and urged clearer rules to permit security teams to remove or restrain dangerous actors. Doody said the bill provides civil immunity in limited circumstances and is not intended to expand lethal‑force options.
Opponents, led by Sarah Whittington of the ACLU, raised concerns about broad language that could sweep in outdoor property and chilled First Amendment activity, and about immunity potentially enabling disproportionate force. The committee adopted amendment set 1696 to align definitions and clarify when immunity applies.
After a roll call the committee reported HB 294 as amended (yeas 10, nays 2). The sponsor said staff will work to ensure the bill can survive legal challenges while preserving sanctuary protections.
