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SLS 26RS-227 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 35
BY SENATOR WHEAT
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Creates the crime of disturbing the peace at a place of religious
worship. (8/1/26)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 14:103.4, relative to offenses affecting the general peace and order; to create
3 the crime of disturbing the peace at a place of religious worship; to prohibit the
4 petitioning, picketing, protesting, or assembling with other persons in or near a place
5 of religious worship; to provide for penalties; to provide for a definition; and to
6 provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 14:103.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §103.4. Disturbing the peace; place of religious worship
10 A. No person shall petition, picket, demonstrate, protest, or assemble
11 with other persons in, or within fifty feet of, a place of worship in a manner
12 which intentionally and willfully disrupts, threatens to disrupt, intimidates,
13 harasses, or interferes with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise
14 his right of religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment of the
15 Constitution of the United States of America or Article I, Section 8 of the
16 Constitution of Louisiana.
17 B. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined five
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 35
SLS 26RS-227 ENGROSSED
1 hundred dollars and imprisoned for fifteen days without benefit of probation
2 or suspension of sentence. Each day on which a violation occurs shall constitute
3 a separate offense.
4 C. For purposes of this Section, "place of worship" means a church,
5 synagogue, mosque, temple, shrine, or other building used regularly to conduct
6 religious worship, education, or services.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof
or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
DIGEST
SB 35 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Wheat
Proposed law creates the crime of disturbing the peace in or near a place of religious
worship.
Proposed law further provides that no person can petition, picket, demonstrate, protest, or
assemble with other persons in, or within 50 feet of, a place of worship in a manner which
intentionally and willfully disrupts, threatens to disrupt, intimidates, harasses, or interferes
with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise his right of religious freedom
guaranteed by U.S. Const. Amend. I or La. Const. Art. I, Sec 8.
Proposed law provides that an offender will be fined $500 and sentenced to 15 days in jail,
without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.
Proposed law defines "place of worship" as a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, shrine,
or other building used regularly to conduct religious worship, education, or services.
Effective August 1, 2026.
(Adds R.S. 14:103.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to the
original bill
1. Require that the disruption or interference with religious freedom be
committed willfully and intentionally.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.