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HB 363

Crimes; crime of disruption of a worship service, established; criminal penalty, provided

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Barnes

Alabama HB 363 criminalizes intentional disruption of worship services with defined criminal penalties, balancing religious freedom protections against free speech considerations.

County and Municipal Government 1st Substitute (County and Municipal Government)
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Bill Summary · HB 363

Legislative bill overview

HB 363 establishes a new criminal offense in Alabama for disrupting worship services, with specified criminal penalties. The bill creates a statutory crime that targets conduct that intentionally interferes with religious gatherings or services.

Why is this important

This legislation directly impacts First Amendment protections and religious freedom by defining the legal boundaries around permissible conduct at worship venues. The law affects both those seeking to exercise free speech/protest rights and religious institutions seeking undisturbed worship, creating potential tension between constitutional protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Free speech vs. worship protection: Defining "disruption" precisely enough to avoid criminalizing legitimate peaceful protest or expression while protecting genuine worship experiences
  • Vagueness concerns: Criminal statutes must clearly define prohibited conduct; ambiguous language could lead to selective or overly broad enforcement
  • Denominational neutrality: Ensuring the law applies equally across all religions without favoring particular faiths or denominations
  • Proportionality of penalties: Whether criminal penalties (rather than civil remedies or trespass laws) are appropriate given that existing laws may already address forcible removal or property crimes

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

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