New Law Would Make Interrupting Church Services a Felony
By Isabella Gomez
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
February 26, 2026
MONTGOMERY, Ala. A new bill that would make it a felony to disrupt a church service in Alabama has passed in the Alabama house of Representatives and now has now been sent to the Senate.
According to HB 363, if an individual enters a church building or church property with the “intent to disrupt” a worship service, law enforcement can arrest and charge the individual for the act which under Alabama law, is a Class C felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Disruption is defined by the legislation as rioting, engaging in disorderly conduct, harassing any individual participant, and/or obstructing the ingress or egress to a church building or its property.
Disorderly interruptions, even those involving firearms are not uncommon in churches nationwide and that’s why the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Greg Barnes (R-Jasper), explained that a disruption would likely be addressed by law enforcement.
“A police officer will come in and listen to what the evidence is that they have heard,” Barnes told reporters. “Depending on the level of disruption, whether they were violent, whether they tore stuff up, whether they injured someone. I think they would make a call based strictly on that, but that would be really at the officer’s discretion, like most things are.”
Police nationwide have seen an increase in protests at churches as well as disturbances involving trespassing, domestic violence and stalking.
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