Places of religious worship: unlawful activities.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Bauer-Kahan
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about jail time penalties.

Rules to Protect Religious Places

The law makes it illegal to harass, threaten, or block people near religious places and sets fines for breaking these rules.

What This Bill Does

Makes it against the law to approach someone within 8 feet of them at a place of worship to pass out leaflets, show signs, talk about issues, or cause trouble.
Sets up penalties like fines or jail time if people break this rule.

Who It Names or Affects

People who go to religious services or events at a place of worship.
Anyone near an entrance or exit of a place of worship within 100 feet.

Terms To Know

First Amendment: A part of the U.S. Constitution that protects people's rights to freedom of religion, speech, and peaceful assembly.
State-mandated local program: When the state government requires local governments or schools to do something new, which can sometimes mean extra costs for them.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact jail time penalties.
It is unclear if this law will change how people protest near religious places.

Bill History

2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 14).
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and JUD.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2664, as amended, Bauer-Kahan.
Places of religious worship: unlawful activities.
Existing law makes it a crime to, by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction that is a crime of violence, intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.
This bill would make it unlawful for a person to, within a radius of 100 feet from an entrance or exit of a place of religious worship, as defined, intentionally approach another person or occupant of a motor vehicle within 8 feet of that person or occupant to either pass a leaflet or handbill to, display a sign to, or engage in oral protest or education or to harass, obstruct, threaten, or intimidate the person or occupant. The bill would prescribe specified fines, imprisonment, or fine and
imprisonment for a violation of these provisions. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF