Relating to creating the criminal offense of worship service disruption.

The text as introduced · 383 words

2027S0003-1 11/05/26

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 171

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating the criminal offense of worship service

disruption.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Penal Code, is amended by adding

Section 42.057 to read as follows:

Sec. 42.057. WORSHIP SERVICE DISRUPTION. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Picketing" means:

(A) standing, sitting, or repeated walking,

riding, driving, or other similar action by a person displaying or

carrying a banner, placard, or sign;

(B) engaging in loud singing, chanting,

whistling, or yelling, with or without noise amplification through

a device such as a bullhorn or microphone; or

(C) blocking access to a place of worship being

used for a religious service.

(2) "Place of worship" means a building at which a

religious service is regularly held.

(b) A person commits an offense if, during the period

beginning three hours before a religious service begins at a place

of worship and ending three hours after the service is completed,

the person engages in picketing within 1,000 feet of the place of

worship.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. Sections 42.04(a) and (c), Penal Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) If conduct that would otherwise violate Section

42.01(a)(5) (Unreasonable Noise), 42.03 (Obstructing Passageway),

[ or ] 42.055 (Funeral Service Disruptions) , or 42.057 (Worship

Service Disruption) consists of speech or other communication, of

gathering with others to hear or observe such speech or

communication, or of gathering with others to picket or otherwise

express in a nonviolent manner a position on social, economic,

political, or religious questions, the actor must be ordered to

move, disperse, or otherwise remedy the violation prior to the

actor's [ his ] arrest if the actor [ he ] has not yet intentionally

harmed the interests of others which those sections seek to

protect.

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Section

42.01(a)(5), 42.03, [ or ] 42.055 , or 42.057 :

(1) that in circumstances in which this section

requires an order no order was given;

(2) that an order, if given, was manifestly

unreasonable in scope; or

(3) that an order, if given, was promptly obeyed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.