HB1606: HB1606 Crimes; offense of disruption of a worship service; provide

Georgia law currently does not have a specific crime for disrupting a religious worship service. This bill would add one to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A. Title 16, Chapter 11, Article 2), which covers offenses against public order. It opens with legislative findings about the importance of religious worship and peaceful protest, and states that protecting worship services from willful disruption is a matter of statewide concern. The new law would make it a crime to enter a church intending to disrupt a service, block entry or exit to a church or its adjoining property, riot or engage in disorderly conduct inside a church during a service, harass worship participants, or otherwise obstruct access to the church. A conviction could bring a fine up to $5,000, one to five years in prison, or both. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Creates a new criminal offense called disruption of a worship service under Georgia's public order laws (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-34.3).
• Defines specific acts that count as disruption, including entering a church to disrupt a service, blocking entry or exit, rioting, disorderly conduct, or harassing worshippers.
• Sets a penalty of a fine up to $5,000, imprisonment of one to five years, or both for anyone convicted of the new offense.
• Defines terms like 'church,' 'unlawful protest,' and 'worship service' to clarify who and what the law covers.
• Sets the law to take effect July 1, 2026, and repeals any conflicting laws.

The bill affects people who protest, demonstrate, or gather near churches, mosques, synagogues, or other religious properties during services, as well as churchgoers and clergy who could seek protection under the new offense. Local law enforcement and prosecutors would also be responsible for enforcing the new crime.

If enacted, someone who blocks a church entrance, disrupts a service, or harasses worshippers during a religious gathering could face criminal charges and up to five years in prison. The law would give worship communities a specific legal tool against disruptions that did not exist as a distinct crime before.

• Section 1 lays out legislative findings on the importance of protecting worship services from disruption while acknowledging the right to peaceful protest.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 16-11-34.3, defining terms such as 'church,' 'worship service,' 'unlawful protest,' 'disorderly conduct,' 'harassment,' and 'riot' by reference to existing Georgia statutes.
• Section 2 also lists five specific acts that qualify as disruption of a worship service, including entering a church to disrupt it and obstructing access to church property.
• Section 2 sets the penalty at a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of one to five years, or both.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-04-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-31House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-27House Hopper (House)

• David Clark (R, HD-100)Primary sponsor
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)

• religious freedom
• criminal law
• church safety
• protest rights
• public order offenses