Bipartisan House bill would impose civil fines on protesters who disrupt worship at church entrances

A bipartisan bill introduced in the House would raise the financial stakes for people who protest outside churches and other houses of worship in ways that disrupt worship services, according to a new report. The proposal would set civil penalties for certain conduct occurring within a defined buffer zone around entrances used for worship.

Under the approach described by Fox News, the bill would establish civil fines of up to $10,000 for protests that disrupt worship within 100 feet of a house of worship entrance. The measure focuses on the impact of the protest on the ability to conduct religious services, rather than on criminal charges, according to the reporting.

The reported bill is part of a broader effort to address disruptions that lawmakers say can interfere with public access to religious services and with the orderly operation of worship spaces. Supporters of the measure argue that it targets conduct at a specific location and time-bound purpose, while opponents are expected to raise concerns about the scope of regulated speech and assembly.

The legislation’s enforcement mechanism, as described in the coverage, would operate through civil penalties rather than arrest and prosecution. Civil enforcement can still raise constitutional questions, particularly around First Amendment protections, because the definition of “disrupt” and the measurement of the 100-foot boundary can affect how broadly the law is applied in practice.

If the bill advances, it would move through standard House legislative steps, including consideration in the committee process and a vote on the House floor. As with most bills, the final text would determine how the penalty standard is defined, what process is used to assess fines, and what defenses or limits exist for religious liberty and free-expression concerns.

The reporting describes the measure as “rare” bipartisan cooperation on a topic that often divides along party or ideological lines, indicating that the issue has found broader legislative resonance. The bill’s practical effect would depend on how it is drafted and implemented, including how officials calculate the 100-foot zone and how they evaluate whether worship was disrupted in the covered way.

For houses of worship and congregants, the most immediate consequence would be the potential for a significant civil fine for certain protest conduct near entrances during worship. For protesters, the measure could change planning and operational choices, as the legislation would attach monetary penalties to proximity and interference with worship services.