Senate approves new offense for obstructing worship after debate on overlap with trespass law

Senators passed a bill on March 23 that creates a criminal offense for obstructing the freedom of worship in circumstances involving force, threats or other forms of intimidation.

Senator Gary Edmonds (Senator Edmonds) presented SB 306 and said the measure is intended to protect worshipers from deliberate, forceful interference. "We want to make certain that our churches are not denied the right to exercise freedom of worship," he said, arguing the bill addresses incidents that go beyond a routine trespass.

Several senators questioned whether the conduct targeted by SB 306 was already criminal under existing law. Senator Carter asked whether the behavior described — entering a church against the wishes of clergy or deacons — would not already be prosecuted as trespass or other offenses. Carter said: "Wouldn't that solve the problem?" to which Edmonds responded that the bill is written to capture a higher level of obstruction, including blocking entrances, refusing to leave and conduct that separates children from parents.

Senator Bass raised concerns about geographic reach in landlocked churches that are accessed from public roadways, asking whether the bill could extend to obstructive acts on access roads. Edmonds replied the sponsor intended the statute to apply to acts on private church property and to situations where actors intentionally obstruct lawful entry or exit, not to routine access along public ways.

The Senate adopted committee and technical amendments referenced by the attorney general's office and then voted on final passage. The bill passed 27 yeas and 8 nays on the roll call.

Why it matters
Sponsors framed SB 306 as reinforcing constitutional freedom of worship against increasingly forceful and violent interruptions in houses of worship. Opponents questioned whether the new offense is necessary where trespass and other criminal statutes may already apply; the transcript shows the exchange focused on statutory language and how the bill would be enforced.

What’s next
With final passage on the floor, the bill proceeds to enrollment and transmission for the governor’s consideration; implementation will depend on final statutory text and any administrative guidance or prosecutorial decisions.