SB239 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald O. Dial
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
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: SB239 would extend the prohibited protest distance from 500 to 1000 feet around funeral facilities and establish criminal penalties for disrupting funerals.
What This Bill Does
It increases the distance within which protests are considered disruptive from 500 to 1000 feet of the funeral facility entrance. It covers actions before, during, or after the service, including protests with amplified sound, blocking access, or impeding the procession. It defines 'facility' as funeral home, church, or cemetery, and assigns penalties: a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class C felony for subsequent offenses. It becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval, and is treated as creating a new crime for purposes of local-funding rules.

Who It Affects
Protesters or demonstrators who plan to protest near funeral facilities; if they protest within 1000 feet of the entrance during the specified times, they could be charged with disrupting a funeral.
Funeral facilities (funeral homes, churches, cemeteries) and people attending services; the rule provides a larger protection zone around entrances and governs what actions are considered disruptive.

Key Provisions
Prohibits protests that disrupt a funeral or memorial service within 1000 feet of the entrance to a facility used for the service (funeral home, church, or cemetery).
Defines disruptive actions to include protests with sound amplification, singing, chanting, whistling, yelling, honking, or blocking access, when occurring within the 60 minutes before, during, or after the service.
Punishments: Class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and Class C felony for subsequent convictions.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Disrupting a Funeral or Memorial Service