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Bill

SB 35

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Creates the crime of disturbing the peace at a place of religious worship. (8/1/26) (EG SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Wheat

Louisiana bill criminalizes disturbing the peace specifically at religious worship locations, potentially creating stricter conduct standards in those venues than elsewhere.

Read by title; withdrawn from the files of the Senate.
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Bill Summary · SB 35

Legislative bill overview

SB 35 establishes a new criminal offense in Louisiana specifically for disturbing the peace at places of religious worship. The bill creates a distinct legal category targeting disruptive conduct occurring within religious facilities or during religious gatherings, distinguishing it from general disturbing-the-peace statutes.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects both religious freedom protections and public safety enforcement. It signals how Louisiana balances protecting religious gatherings from disruption against broader free speech and assembly rights, while also creating differential criminal treatment based on location and activity type.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment concerns: Critics may argue that creating a location-specific disturbance crime could disproportionately restrict free speech and protest rights at religious venues compared to other public spaces
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's success depends heavily on how "disturbing the peace" is defined in this context—vague language could enable selective enforcement or chill legitimate expression
  • Equal protection questions: Applying stricter standards to religious venues than secular ones could raise constitutional challenges regarding preferential treatment of religion or selective application of criminal law

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

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