Crimes: disturbing religious worship.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Grove
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: March 24 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 5. Page 3661.) Reconsideration granted.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Making Disturbing Religious Worship a Felony

The bill makes it a felony to intentionally disturb religious worship, increasing the punishment from a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and jail time of up to one year to a felony with higher fines and longer jail sentences.

What This Bill Does

Makes disturbing religious worship an offense that can be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
Increases the maximum fine for this crime from $1,000 to $5,000 if it is treated as a felony.
Increases the jail time for this crime from up to one year in county jail to 16 months, two years, or three years if it is treated as a felony.

Who It Names or Affects

People who intentionally disturb religious worship services
Law enforcement agencies that enforce these laws

Terms To Know

Felony: A serious crime that can result in more severe punishments than a misdemeanor.
Misdemeanor: A less serious crime that usually results in lighter punishment compared to a felony.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass the committee and failed to move forward.
It is unclear if or when this bill will be reconsidered or passed into law.

Bill History

2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
March 24 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 5. Page 3661.) Reconsideration granted.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 24.
2026-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1070, as introduced, Grove.
Crimes: disturbing religious worship.
Existing law makes it a crime to intentionally disturb or disquiet an assemblage of people met for religious worship by profane discourse, rude or indecent behavior, or by any unnecessary noise. Existing law makes a violation of this crime a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
This bill would additionally make a violation of the above-described crime a felony punishable by a fine not exceeding $5,000, by imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years, or by both that fine and imprisonment. By making an existing crime punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony, 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