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SB 520

Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.

2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 520 would criminalize interfering with a religious assembly and allow civil damages for such disruptions, protecting religious gatherings.

Died in Committee
#civilprocedureandcivilactions #crimes #punishmentandcriminalprocedure
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Bill Summary · SB 520

Summary of SB 520 (2025-2026) – Kansas

Purpose and intent

SB 520 seeks to criminalize interference with the conduct of a religious assembly. In addition to creating potential criminal penalties, the bill provides for a civil cause of action for damages resulting from such interference. The core aim is to protect the free exercise of religious gatherings by addressing actions that disrupt or obstruct a religious assembly.

Key provisions and changes

  • Criminal offense: The bill defines and establishes a new crime titled “interference with the conduct of a religious assembly.” While the exact statutory language is not provided here, the creation of a criminal offense generally implies prohibitions on acts that disrupt, impede, or otherwise interfere with the orderly conduct of a religious service or gathering.
  • Penalties: The bill authorizes criminal penalties for violations. The specific penalties (e.g., misdemeanor vs. felony grade, fines, incarceration term) are not listed in the provided summary, but would be defined in the statute if enacted.
  • Civil remedy: In addition to criminal penalties, the bill creates a civil cause of action for damages arising from interference with a religious assembly. Plaintiffs could sue for monetary damages, and potentially related relief (such as injunctions or attorney’s fees) would be defined by statute.
  • Definitions and scope: The law would likely include definitions of “interference,” “religious assembly,” and related terms to establish what conduct qualifies and what exceptions may apply (e.g., protected First Amendment activity, lawful police action, or safety exceptions). The exact scope is not detailed here.
  • Procedural provisions: The bill would specify filing requirements for the civil action, potential defenses, and standard of proof for civil claims, as well as procedural steps in criminal enforcement.

Who would be affected

  • Religious congregations and attendees: Individuals participating in or overseeing religious assemblies could be protected from disruptions and have access to civil remedies.
  • Offenders: Individuals or entities committing acts deemed to interfere with a religious assembly could face criminal charges and civil liability.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors: Agencies would need to apply the new statute in criminal investigations and charging decisions, and prosecutors would handle civil actions as appropriate.
  • Judicial system: Courts would adjudicate both criminal charges and civil claims arising under the bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referrals: SB 520 was introduced and initially referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, then redirected to the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs (with a prior re-referral within committees).
  • Status timeline:
    • Introduced: February 25, 2026
    • Referred to Senate Judiciary: February 26, 2026
    • Referred to Senate Federal and State Affairs: February 27, 2026
    • Died in Committee: April 10, 2026
  • The “died in committee” status means the bill did not advance to the full Senate for a vote in this session, effectively ending its advancement unless reintroduced in a subsequent session.

Practical considerations

  • The creation of a new crime and civil cause of action raises questions about first amendment implications, the balance between protecting religious freedom and protecting public rights, and potential overlaps with existing obstruction or public-order statutes.
  • If the bill were revived, lawmakers would assess penalties, definitions, and any safe harbors or exemptions to address concerns about overbreadth or punitive impact on protected expressive activity.

Note: Details such as exact statutory text, defined terms, and specific penalty amounts are not provided in the summary available here.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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