Crime of disruption of worship services establishment

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:

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Subd. 2a.

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Disruption of worship services prohibited.

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(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.

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(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.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes

committed on or after that date.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Definition.

For purposes of
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subdivision 2
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this section
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,
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a
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"religious establishment"
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is
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means
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a building used for worship services by a religious organization and clearly

identified as such by a posted sign or other means.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026.

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