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Bill > HB363

AL HB363

AL HB363
Crimes; crime of disruption of a worship service, established; criminal penalty, provided

summary

Introduced
01/29/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

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

AI Summary

This bill establishes the new crime of "disruption of a worship service" in Alabama, recognizing the importance of protecting religious gatherings and the free exercise of religion, while also acknowledging the right to peaceful protest. The law defines key terms such as "church" (including any religious building), "disorderly conduct," "harassment," "riot," "unlawful protest" (defined as three or more people intending to disturb the peace), and "worship service." An individual commits this crime if they knowingly enter a church with the intent to disrupt a scheduled worship service, or enter church property to block access, and then engage in an unlawful protest, riot, disorderly conduct, harassment of attendees, or obstruct entry/exit. Penalties include a Class C felony for a first offense, and a Class C felony with a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment for subsequent offenses, with the act set to become effective on October 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (55)

Gregory Barnes (R)*,  Heath Allbright (R),  Alan Baker (R),  Russell Bedsole (R),  Ron Bolton (R),  Bryan Brinyark (R),  Chip Brown (R),  Mack Butler (R),  Jim Carns (R),  Steve Clouse (R),  Brock Colvin (R),  Danny Crawford (R),  Norman Crow (R),  Susan DuBose (R),  David Faulkner (R),  Jennifer Fidler (R),  Bob Fincher (R),  Mark Gidley (R),  Donna Givens (R),  Matthew Hammett (R),  Ben Harrison (R),  Leigh Hulsey (R),  Steve Hurst (R),  Jamie Kiel (R),  Mike Kirkland (R),  Bill Lamb (R),  Paul Lee (R),  Craig Lipscomb (R),  James Lomax (R),  Rhett Marques (R),  Arnold Mooney (R),  Parker Moore (R),  Cindy Myrex (R),  Ed Oliver (R),  Marcus Paramore (R),  Kenneth Paschal (R),  Phillip Pettus (R),  Chris Pringle (R),  Rick Rehm (R),  Phillip Rigsby (R),  Ben Robbins (R),  Jeana Ross (R),  Ginny Shaver (R),  Mike Shaw (R),  Mark Shirey (R),  Matt Simpson (R),  Van Smith (R),  David Standridge (R),  Jerry Starnes (R),  Shane Stringer (R),  Allen Treadaway (R),  Bubba Underwood (R),  Andy Whitt (R),  Margie Wilcox (R),  Ernie Yarbrough (R), 

Last Action

Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (on 02/19/2026)

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