House Bill 363 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg BarnesRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

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

Summary

HB363 creates a new offense called disruption of a worship service, making certain disruptive actions during a scheduled worship service a Class C felony, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It defines what counts as a church-related property and a worship service, and it makes it illegal for someone to enter church property during a scheduled service with the intent to disrupt it. If the person engages in riot, disorderly conduct, harassment of participants, or blocks the ingress or egress, they commit the offense. Anyone who commits this offense would be charged as a Class C felony. The act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who knowingly enter a church building or church property during a scheduled worship service with the intent to disrupt it and who engage in riot, disorderly conduct, harassment, or obstruct ingress/egress (they would face a Class C felony).
• Religious organizations and their congregants or attendees, who are protected by the law and may experience enforcement actions or penalties if the offense is committed during a worship service.

Key Provisions

• Defines terms: Church Building, Church Property, Worship Service, and related acts (Disorderly Conduct, Harassment, Riot) to apply to disruptions during religious services.
• Creates the crime of disruption of a worship service: entering during a scheduled service with intent to disrupt and committing riot, disorderly conduct, harassment, or obstructing ingress/egress.
• Penalty: violators are guilty of a Class C felony.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses