Louisiana committee moves bill to increase penalties for disturbances at places of worship; defense groups warn of vagueness
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Summary
The committee moved House Bill 68 favorably after sponsor testimony that the bill deters disruptive conduct at houses of worship. Criminal‑defense groups and the ACLU raised concerns about vagueness, overlap with existing disturbing‑the‑peace laws, and prosecutorial scope.
Representative Glorioso presented House Bill 68, a measure that creates a disturbance‑of‑the‑peace offense specific to places of worship and increases penalties when other crimes (battery or property damage) accompany the disturbance.
Supporters said the bill is designed to protect sacred spaces and align state law with federal definitions of places of worship used for tax‑exempt purposes. "Churches are sacred places, and they have been subject to violence," the sponsor said, urging the committee to deter that activity.
Opponents raised concerns about drafting and application. Daniel Gennady (Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) warned subsection B could be vague and reach conduct already covered by existing disturbing‑the‑peace statutes; he cautioned the provision could criminalize loud or abusive language without clear limits. Sarah Whittington of the ACLU provided data suggesting many disruptive incidents are already addressed under existing statutes and urged caution before expanding criminalization.
The committee worked through cards and questions, noted stakeholder engagement (police chiefs and clergy submitted support cards) and ultimately moved HB 68 favorably.
What’s next: The bill will proceed with the committee’s favorable report to the Senate floor. Committee members signaled willingness to coordinate with other sponsors and combine similar measures, if necessary.
