Committee narrows language in bill to criminalize interruptions inside houses of worship; civil‑liberties groups urge caution

The committee reported House Bill 68 favorably on March 18 after authors and opponents agreed to committee amendments that narrowed the measure.

Chairwoman Schlegel and Representative Glorioso combined similar proposals to update the disturbing‑the‑peace statute to make intentional interruption of worship a prosecutable offense and to increase penalties, including a mandatory minimum jail term and felony enhancements when battery, property damage, or weapons are involved. Committee amendment set 812 defined the places covered (synagogue, mosque and similar places under 26 US 501 definitions) and replaced the word "at" with "in" to limit the statute to interruptions inside worship spaces; the amendment also increased a mandatory minimum from 15 to 30 days in one provision.

Civil‑liberties groups such as the ACLU urged tighter language and clear definitions to avoid unintended restrictions on lawful protest or protected public‑square speech; Sarah Whittington of ACLU said the committee should more precisely define terms such as "tumultuous" and "unreasonably loud". Megan Garvey of LACDL warned the bill could convert many acts into jury trials with greater resource demands if battery enhancements apply. The author accepted narrowing amendments and asked for favorable passage; the committee reported HB68 as amended.