HB171 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Duwayne Bridges
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Funerals, disrupting, crime further provided for, distance of protest from property line of funeral facility further provided for, Sec. 13A-11-17 am'd.
Summary: HB171 would raise the protest distance allowed near funeral facilities from 500 feet to 1,000 feet, making certain protests a crime if they occur too close to the facility.
What This Bill Does
If passed, the bill makes disrupting a funeral or memorial service a crime when a protest occurs within 1,000 feet of the facility's entrance (instead of 500 feet). It covers protests before, during, or after the service and includes actions like singing, chanting, or using amplified sound, as well as blocking access or impeding a procession. Violations carry penalties: a first conviction is a Class A misdemeanor, and subsequent convictions are Class C felonies. The bill also notes it is exempt from certain constitutional requirements about local funds because it defines a crime.

Who It Affects
Protesters or demonstrators who participate within 1,000 feet of a funeral facility's entrance and could be charged if their actions disrupt the service.
Funeral facilities (funeral homes, churches, cemeteries) and their communities, since the distance measurement applies to the property line and affects how protests near services are regulated.

Key Provisions
Prohibited protest distance increased from 500 feet to 1,000 feet from the facility's entrance/property line.
Protests must be avoided during the 60 minutes before, during, and after a scheduled funeral or memorial service, with included actions such as amplified sound, singing, chanting, whistling, yelling, or honking.
Actions that disrupt the service also include blocking access to the facility or impeding vehicles in the procession.
Facility definition includes funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries where the service takes place.
Penalties: Class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and Class C felony for each subsequent conviction.
Statement that the bill defines a crime and is exempt from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Disrupting a Funeral or Memorial Service