§38.6. Obstruction of the freedom of worship in a church or other place of worship

            A. Obstruction of the freedom of worship at a church or other place of worship is committed when a person does any of the following:

            (1) Uses force, the threat of force, physical obstruction, intentional injury, or attempted intentional injury, to intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the right of the free exercise of religion at a church or other place of worship that is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America and by Article XII, Section 17 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

            (2) Intentionally damages or destroys the property of a church or other place of worship.

            (3) Willfully denies an attendee, clergy, or member of the staff of a church or other place of worship any of the following:

            (a) Lawful freedom of movement on the property of the church or other place of worship.

            (b) Lawful use of any property or facilities of a church or other place of worship.

            (c) Lawful ingress and egress to and from the physical facilities of a church or other place of worship.

            (4) Willfully refuses or fails to leave the private property of the church or other place of worship when requested to do so by the clergy, when the person is committing, threatening to commit, or inciting others to commit any disruptive activity that is intended to disrupt, impair, interfere with or obstruct the worship service in a church or other place of worship.

            (5) Engages in a disruptive activity at a church or other place of worship.

            B. For purposes of this Section:

            (1) "Attendee" means a person who is lawfully present in a church or other place of worship, or is engaging in the lawful ingress and egress thereto.

            (2) "Church or other place of worship" means any building, structure, or defined outdoor area that is owned, leased, or otherwise lawfully possessed by a religious organization that is used for organized religious worship or other religious activities.

            (3) "Clergy" means the pastor of the church, a deacon, or other member of the religious organization who has authority over the administration of the church or other place of worship or has been designated by the religious organization with such authority.

            (4)(a) "Disruptive activity" means intentional conduct occurring on the property of a church or other place of worship during a worship service that materially and substantially interferes with the service, including interruption of the service or obstruction of access to any area used in connection with the service, such as a sanctuary, chapel, nursery, children's ministry area, or other designated worship-related space.

            (b) "Disruptive activity" does not include behavior otherwise prohibited by Subsection A of this Section.

            (5) "Religious organization" means an entity that is operated for religious purposes and qualifies for exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (P.L. 99-514, 26 U.S.C. 501).

            (6) "Worship service" means a regularly scheduled religious meeting or assembly held at a church or other place of worship for the purpose of worship or religious observance.

            C.(1) Whoever commits obstruction of the freedom of worship in a church or other place of worship shall be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not less than fifteen days nor more than six months, or both.

            (2) For a second or subsequent offense, the offender shall be fined not more than twenty-five thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than eighteen months, or both.

            (3) In addition to any other penalty imposed pursuant to this Subsection, when the offense results in bodily injury of a lawful attendee, member of the clergy, or staff member, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than two years and not more than ten years at hard labor.

            D. Any person who knowingly finances, funds, or otherwise provides material support or assistance to another person with the intent to facilitate, promote, or cause a violation of this Section shall be deemed to be a principal pursuant to R.S. 14:24 and shall be subject to the same penalties as the person who directly commits the violation of this Section.

            Acts 2026, No. 379, §1, eff. May 22, 2026.