The bill was introduced by State Senator Shannon Grove, of Bakersfield.
By Catholics for Catholics
Looking to curb the spate of disruptions at churches and houses of worship, California lawmakers are pushing legislation to reinforce protections against bullying at religious services in the state.
According to a story by The Christian Post, Senate Bill 1070, which was presented by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), in partnership with The American Council, would renovate the state’s penal code, which currently classifies intentional conflicts of religious worship as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Senate Bill 1070 would form a “wobbler” offense, giving prosecutors a choice to charge violations as either a misdemeanor or a felony based on gravity, coordination, or repetition. If passed, SB 1070 would expand California Penal Code Section 302 and set felony penalties at up to $5,000 in fines and county jail time of 16 months.
“Churches are not political rally venues or protest stages. They are sacred spaces where families gather to worship God in peace,” California Family Council Vice President Greg Burt said in a media statement. “When agitators intentionally invade or obstruct services, they are not exercising free speech. They are trampling on the religious liberty of others. California must send a clear message that worship services will be protected.”
.@VP: "If you interrupt a church service, you ought to get arrested, you ought to go to prison. I think we wanted to send a very clear signal at the Department of Justice that you cannot interrupt people's rightful worship without expecting there to be any consequences." pic.twitter.com/XinFI19nKj
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 22, 2026
The bill — still in the initial phases of the legislative course — was created after a string of high-profile church disruptions since January, including at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, a Southern Baptist congregation where protesters interrupted a worship service to oppose one of the church’s pastors who also serves as a local ICE official.
The Post reported that under current California law, disturbing a religious meeting by using profanity, misbehavior or unreasonable noise is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and/or a year in county jail.
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