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Right to Worship Act seeks tougher protection for worshippers
The measure would create a 100-foot buffer around houses of worship and impose civil penalties for conduct that disrupts access to religious services.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 14, Aug 2026
- 04:58 EDT
- 30
Representative image / AI generated
A bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this month imposes stronger protections to protect people attending religious services from harassment and intimidation.
The Right to Worship Act would prohibit conduct that knowingly “hinders,” “deters,” “threatens,” or “intimidates” people attempting to enter a house of worship for a scheduled service.
Also Read: The measure was introduced by Tom Suozzi and co-led by Max Miller.
The bill defines “knowingly” as being aware, or reasonably expected to be aware, that the conduct will cause such disruption or impede access to worship.
It was introduced by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brad Knott (R-NC), along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
The bill would apply to houses of worship including synagogues, churches, mosques, temples, mandirs and gurdwaras. It would also protect peaceful expression under the First Amendment when such speech does not interfere with a person’s ability to worship.
“Exercising your right to worship should not require you to exhibit particular courage as you enter your synagogue, church, mosque, temple, mandir, or gurdwara,” Suozzi said.
“I will always stand up for people’s right to protest peacefully, but attendees of religious services should not be harassed, threatened, intimidated, or targeted for practicing their faith,” he said.
The new legislation builds on Suozzi’s earlier SACRED Act, which would make it a federal crime to intentionally intimidate, obstruct or harass people exercising their right to worship within 100 feet of a place of worship.
Right to Worship Act establishes a civil fine structure that increases with each offense, beginning at $2,500 and up to $10,000 per violation. The bill would also allow affected worshippers to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages and legal costs through civil action.
CoHNA is proud to support the bipartisan and bicameral “Right to Worship Act,” which provides important protections for Hindu Mandirs and all places of worship against targeted disruption and intimidation while ensuring that First Amendment rights are also respected.
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) August 13, 2026
Thank you… pic.twitter.com/JKK6wa364e
The U.S. attorney general and state attorneys general would also be authorized to pursue civil action against violators, with state attorneys general able to act on behalf of their constituents.
Knott said the legislation is intended to protect worshippers from intimidation while preserving free speech protections.
“Today, many Americans are unable to worship without fear of harassment, assault, or other forms of intimidation,” Knott said. “The right to worship freely is foundational to our nation and was one of the motivations for its founding.”
The legislation has received support from several religious and civil rights organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, Agudath Israel of America, American Jewish Committee, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Coalition of Hindus of North America, Hadassah, Hindu American Foundation, Islamic Society of North America, Jewish Federations of North America, UJA-Federation of New York, Orthodox Union and UNITED SIKHS.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America said the bill would protect Hindu mandirs and other houses of worship from targeted disruption and intimidation while respecting First Amendment rights.
“CoHNA is proud to support the bipartisan and bicameral ‘Right to Worship Act,’ which provides important protections for Hindu Mandirs and all places of worship against targeted disruption and intimidation while ensuring that First Amendment rights are also respected,” the organization said.
The legislation follows growing debate over protections for worshippers facing protests and confrontations outside religious institutions. Suozzi introduced the SACRED Act in April with Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), citing incidents in which worshippers had been confronted, intimidated and harassed while trying to attend religious services. The bill was designed to establish a nationwide 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship.
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