The Louisiana Senate has advanced Senate Bill 35, a bill that would make disruptive protests at or near churches and other religious services a criminal offense.
The measure passed 27–8, largely along party lines, and now heads to House for further discussion before it is enacted as state law.
Supporters cite an incident in Minnesota earlier this year, where demonstrators disrupted a church service led by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agent.
Lawmakers backing the bill say it aims to protect worship spaces from similar disruptions. The bill follows a protest that took place at a church in Minnesota in January, during which journalist Don Lemon, along with others, was charged for protesting against ICE.