MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama House of Representatives has approved a new bill that would make disrupting a church service a felony. The measure comes after an anti-ICE protest halted rituals in a Minnesota church last month.
HB 363 is sponsored by Rep. Greg Barnes, R-Curry. The bill prohibits an individual or group from interrupting a worship service via riots, unlawful protests, or disorderly conduct.
Consequences for violating the law under HB 363 include Class C felony charges, punishable up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
The measure to protect places of worship passed the Alabama House of Representatives with a vote of 75-27. The bill’s success came at the expense of heavy debates.
Many Republicans were happy to support HB 363. Some Democrats in the Alabama House of Representatives, however, disagreed with the measure due to their beliefs about government overreach.
“I think the absolute worst place that you could take away a person’s right to disagree is in the church. I don’t understand how you say that,” Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile, said. “It seems to me that we think that criminalizing acts change behavior,” he continued. “It doesn’t.”
Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, took a more religious approach in his opposition. “Under this particular piece of legislation, when Jesus went out there and flipped over some tables, he would have been a Class C felon,” he said.
HB 363’s approval in the Alabama House of Representatives comes after a group of anti-ICE protestors disrupted church services at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, last month. Activists targeted the church after learning that one of the pastors, David Easterwood, holds a high-ranking position with ICE.
Pastor Easterwood was not present during Sunday services when protestors disrupted worship for 25 minutes. The lead pastor of Cities Church, Jonathan Parnell, was present and attempted to regain control of the situation. Independent journalist Don Lemon served as a media presence for the demonstration and interviewed Pastor Parnell, who was visibly shaken by the incident.
Pam Bondi of the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated and saw to it that arrest warrants were issued for Don Lemon, along with other journalists and the activists who organized the demonstration. Court proceedings revolving around the Minnesota church protest are ongoing.
HB 363’s approval in the Alabama House of Representatives paves the way for the bill to go to the Senate for approval or denial. If passed in the Senate, the bill will become a law on October 1, 2026.