People near religious sites would face penalties for targeted harassment

People would be barred from repeated acts intended to intimidate people or obstruct their passage at covered religious sites. The ban protects people exercising or seeking religious freedom at places used mainly for worship or religious teaching, including their parking lots, driveways, and entrances. The acts must occur within 100 feet, involve or affect interstate or foreign trade, and cause reasonable fear for physical safety while entering or leaving. Obstructing includes making passage impossible, unreasonably difficult, or hazardous. Constitutionally protected expression would remain allowed.

People would be barred from intentionally approaching within 8 feet of someone and harassing them near a covered religious site. The ban protects people seeking religious freedom within 100 feet of places used mainly for worship or religious teaching, including their parking lots, driveways, and entrances. The conduct must involve or affect interstate or foreign trade. Constitutionally protected expression would remain allowed. Harassment means targeted threatening, intimidating, or violent conduct, or repeated acts, that restrict movement and intentionally cause reasonable fear of physical harm or substantial emotional distress.

People convicted of violating either ban could face a fine, prison, or both. The general prison limit would be one year for a first offense and three years for an offense after a prior conviction under this section. For exclusively nonviolent conduct, maximum penalties would be $10,000 and six months for a first offense, or $25,000 and 18 months for a later offense. If bodily injury results, prison could reach 10 years. If death results, the sentence could be any term of years or life.

Affected people and site owners or operators could sue. Federal and state attorneys general could also bring civil cases. Courts could order violations stopped and award compensation. Private claimants could choose $5,000 per violation instead of actual losses and seek punitive damages and legal costs. Government cases could also seek civil fines. Private claimants must be harmed by prohibited conduct and either lawfully exercise or seek religious freedom at the site, or own or operate it. Attorneys general need reasonable cause to believe a violation has harmed or may harm someone. State cases must represent state residents.