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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
disturbing religious services; worship
Purpose
Establishes the criminal classification of interfering with a religious service or religious activity, which a person commits by intentionally obstructing another person's ability to enter or exit a place of religious worship or by making any protracted commotion, utterance or display in a place of religious worship and that disrupts a religious service or activity. Classifies interfering with a religious service or activity as a class 1 misdemeanor, with certain outlined exceptions.
Background
A person commits disorderly conduct by, with intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, family or person or with knowledge of doing so, such person: 1) engages in fighting, violent or seriously disruptive behavior; 2) makes unreasonable noise; 3) uses abusive or offensive language or gestures to any person present in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation by such person; 4) makes any protracted commotion, utterance or display with the intent to prevent the transaction of the business of a lawful meeting, gathering or procession; 5) refuses to obey a lawful order to disperse issued to maintain public safety in dangerous proximity to a fire, a hazardous or any other emergency; or 6) recklessly handles, displays or discharges a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument. Disorderly conduct is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor, except that disorderly conduct involving recklessly handling, displaying or discharging a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument is a class 6 felony (A.R.S. § 13-2904).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the criminal classification of interfering with a religious service or religious activity, which a person commits by intentionally doing either of the following without legal authority:
a) obstructing, blocking or impeding another person's ability to enter or exit a place of religious worship; or
b) making any protracted commotion, utterance or display in a place of religious worship that disrupts a religious service or religious activity.
2. Specifies that interfering with a religious service or activity does not apply to:
a) peaceful picketing, protesting or other expressive activity; or
b) a law enforcement officer, a first responder or any other authorized person who is acting within the scope of the person's official duties.
3. Classifies interfering with a religious service or religious activity as a class 1 misdemeanor, except that it is a class 6 felony if any of the following applies:
a) the person has been previously convicted of interfering with a religious service or activity;
b) during commission of the offense, the person used force, threats of force or physical intimidation; or
c) the person obstructs the ability to enter or exit a place of religious worship with two or more persons acting together.
4. Defines
obstructing, blocking or impeding as rendering passage impassable or
unreasonably difficult or hazardous.
5. Defines place of religious worship as a privately owned building, structure or designated location where people assemble for a religious service or religious activity.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Adopted the strike-everything amendment.
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that a person commits interference with a religious service or religious activity by making any protracted commotion, utterance or display, rather than engaging in conduct that constitutes disorderly conduct, in a place of religious worship that disrupts a religious service or religious activity.
2. Removes the specification that a person does not need to be charged with or convicted of disorderly conduct to be found in violation of interfering with a religious service or religious activity.
3. Modifies the criteria necessary for interfering with a religious service or religious activity to be classified as a class 6 felony.
4. Replaces the definition of obstruct with obstructing, blocking or impeding, which means rendering passage impassable or unreasonably difficult or hazardous.
5. Defines physical intimidation as placing a person in reasonable apprehension of physical injury to oneself or another person.
6. Redefines place of religious worship as a privately owned building, structure or designated location where people assemble for a religious service or religious activity.
7. Removes the definition of in concert with another person.
8. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Action
JUDE 3/26/26 DPA/SE 4-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
June 9, 2026
ZD/ci