Bill > HB2018

This bill creates the new crime of "interference with the conduct of a religious assembly," which includes intentionally injuring, intimidating, or physically obstructing someone exercising their religious freedom at a place of worship, or recklessly damaging such property. "Interfere with" means restricting movement, "intimidate" means causing fear of harm, and "physical obstruction" means making access to or from a place of worship difficult or hazardous. The bill also defines "aggravated interference" as committing the first type of interference while possessing a firearm or certain weapons. Penalties vary based on the severity of the offense, ranging from misdemeanors for minor property damage to felonies for more serious actions, including aggravated interference. Furthermore, this bill establishes a civil cause of action, allowing individuals injured by such interference to sue for damages, including actual, punitive, and attorney's fees, or elect statutory damages of $5,000 per violation, with a five-year statute of limitations. The Attorney General is also empowered to pursue these cases and may seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. The bill also amends existing law by removing "damaging, defacing or destroying any place of worship" from the definition of criminal desecration and clarifies the Attorney General's authority to prosecute interference with religious assemblies when it's part of a multi-county criminal course of conduct.