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House bill sets $10,000 ceiling on church protest fines in bipartisan push

8/7/2026

$10,000 is the maximum civil fine under a bipartisan House bill that would make it a federal crime to knowingly disrupt or impede access to religious services, with a $2,500 entry fine on the first offense and $5,000 on the second.

Each step doubles, a 4x run from entry to ceiling across three strikes. Brad Knott (R-N.C.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) introduced the measure this week.

At least four states enacted comparable bans earlier this year, according to the Associated Press.

Penalty structure | Offense | Civil fine | |---|---| | First | $2,500 | | Second | $5,000 | | Third | $10,000 | The bill limits liability to "knowing" disruption.