Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing the crime of disruption of worship services;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, subdivision 3, by adding a
subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin
Subd. 2a.
new text end
new text begin
Disruption of worship services prohibited.
new text end
new text begin
(a) A person who enters a religious
establishment with the intent to disrupt a worship service that has a scheduled starting time
and commits a crime within the religious establishment is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) a second or subsequent time is guilty of a felony
and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine
of not more than $10,000, or both.
new text end
new text begin
EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Definition.
For purposes of
deleted text begin
subdivision 2
deleted text end
new text begin
this section
new text end
,
deleted text begin
a
deleted text end
"religious establishment"
deleted text begin
is
deleted text end
new text begin
means
new text end
a building used for worship services by a religious organization and clearly
identified as such by a posted sign or other means.
new text begin
EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective August 1, 2026.
new text end