Federal law creates 100-foot protest-free zone around churches during services

What it does

This bill makes it a federal crime to disrupt religious services or block people from entering houses of worship within 100 feet of an entrance during the hour before through the hour after a scheduled service. Violators face civil fines ($2,500 for first offense, up to $10,000 for repeat violations) and can be sued by individuals, the U.S. Attorney General, or state attorneys general for injunctive relief and damages up to $5,000 per violation. The bill protects peaceful speech and permitted activities but restricts conduct that substantially interferes with worship.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a federal prohibition on disruptive conduct near houses of worship, enforced through civil fines and private lawsuits. While framed as protecting religious freedom, it functions as a restriction on protest and assembly rights near religious sites.

What the text implies

• The 100-foot exclusion zone and 2-hour service window (1 hour before + 1 hour after) may capture lawful sidewalk speech and peaceful assembly, not just disruptive conduct, due to the broad definition of 'disrupt' (conduct that 'meaningfully interferes').
• Private right of action with statutory damages of $5,000 per violation creates incentive for religious institutions to sue protesters, shifting enforcement burden from government to private parties and potentially chilling legitimate protest.
• Definition of 'scheduled religious service' includes services 'imminently beginning' based on 'gathering of congregants,' creating ambiguity about when the 100-foot zone becomes active and potentially capturing pre-service assembly.
• The bill applies to 'any person' and 'groups of persons,' potentially exposing protest organizers to conspiracy liability under subsection (b)(2) even if they do not personally enter the zone.
• Attorney General and state AGs gain broad enforcement authority with 'reasonable cause' standard, creating potential for selective prosecution of disfavored protest movements.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill restricts citizens' First Amendment right to protest and demonstrate near houses of worship by creating a 100-foot exclusion zone during service hours, enforceable through federal civil fines and private lawsuits. While protecting worship from genuine disruption is legitimate, the broad definition of 'disrupt' (conduct that 'meaningfully interferes' or 'substantially affects interstate commerce') and the 100-foot buffer zone during extended time windows (1 hour before through 1 hour aft

Who stands to gain

• religious institutions (private right of action, ability to sue protesters)
• attorneys (statutory damages and fee-shifting provisions incentivize litigation)

Named in the bill

U.S. Attorney General, State Attorneys General, houses of worship, religious institutions, federal district courts

Where it stands

3 cosponsors: 2 Republicans, 1 Democrats.

• Aug 6, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Aug 6, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.