Arizona would penalize intentional disruption of religious services

A person would commit a misdemeanor by intentionally interfering with a religious service or activity without legal authority. The rule covers privately owned buildings, structures, or designated locations where people gather for religious services or activities. The person must intentionally block, obstruct, or impede another person's ability to enter or leave a place of worship. The person may also violate the rule by making a prolonged commotion, statement, or display inside a place of worship that disrupts a service or activity. Peaceful picketing, protests, and other expressive activity are excluded. Law enforcement officers, first responders, and other authorized people acting within their official duties are excluded. The text was approved and filed on June 22, 2026, but it does not state an effective date.

The offense would become a class 6 felony in listed aggravated situations; otherwise, it would be a class 1 misdemeanor. The felony level applies when the person has a prior conviction under this section, uses force or threats, or acts with at least two other people to block entry or exit. The text defines blocking or impeding as making passage impossible or unreasonably difficult or dangerous. Physical intimidation means causing a person to reasonably fear physical injury to themselves or someone else. The penalty classification applies when a violation meets one of the listed aggravated conditions; the text provides no separate start date.