SF 4396

02/26/26  REVISOR  VH/RC  26-07057        as introduced
  SENATE
  STATE OF MINNESOTA
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION  S.F. No. 4396
  (SENATE AUTHORS: MATHEWS, Weber, Kreun, Limmer and Dornink)
  DATE       D-PG  OFFICIAL STATUS
  03/12/2026      6666 Introduction and first reading
  Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to public safety; establishing the crime of disruption of worship services;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, subdivision 3, by adding a
1.4subdivision.
1.5      BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.7      to read:
1.8Subd. 2a. Disruption of worship services prohibited. (a) A person who enters a religious
1.9      establishment with the intent to disrupt a worship service that has a scheduled starting time
1.10     and commits a crime within the religious establishment is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
1.11(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) a second or subsequent time is guilty of a felony
1.12     and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine
1.13     of not more than $10,000, or both.
1.14EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
1.15     committed on or after that date.
1.16Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.28, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.17Subd. 3. Definition. For purposes of subdivision 2 this section, a "religious establishment"
1.18     is means a building used for worship services by a religious organization and clearly
1.19     identified as such by a posted sign or other means.
1.20EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026.
Sec. 2.  1