Ohio House Bill 662: Ohio Lawmakers Propose Felony Charge for Disrupting Religious Services
Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation that would increase penalties for disrupting religious services, elevating the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.
State Reps. Johnathan Newman (R-Troy) and Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) introduced House Bill 662. The proposal would raise the charge for intentionally obstructing or interfering with in-person or online religious services from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony.
Under current Ohio law, a first-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A fifth-degree felony is punishable by up to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Newman said the bill is aimed at protecting the constitutional right to freely practice religion. “I will do everything possible to ensure Ohioans’ First Amendment right to free exercise of religion is protected, along with houses of worship and worshippers,” he said in a statement.
The legislation follows a Jan. 18 protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a church service during an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement rally. Lawmakers cited the incident as an example of what they view as interference with religious freedom.
Fischer said while Americans have the right to protest government policies, that right does not extend to disrupting religious services. “Our state should not tolerate this behavior and must stand strong in protecting the rights of Ohioans of all faiths,” he said.
In 2023, lawmakers previously increased the penalty for disturbing religious worship from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor under House Bill 504. That measure received broad bipartisan support.
House Bill 662 has been assigned to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, where it is awaiting its first hearing. The bill currently has 21 Republican co-sponsors.
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