The watchtower for Faith, Family, and Freedom Legislation

Federal HB8239: SACRED Act Safeguarding Access to Congregations and Religious Establishments from Disruption Act

☆ Watch
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To President
  5. Became Law

Overview

This federal bill protects people exercising their religious freedom rights at places of worship by making it illegal to harass them within 100 feet of the facility.

Law Today

Federal law in title 18, United States Code, currently does not specifically prohibit harassment of people exercising religious freedom at places of worship within a 100-foot radius of such facilities.

If Passed

The bill would create a new federal crime for harassment of persons lawfully exercising religious freedom at churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other places of worship within 100 feet of the building. This would give Christian families federal legal protection if they or their children are harassed, threatened, or intimidated while attending worship services or religious events.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Should I support this?

  1. Strongly Oppose
  2. Likely Oppose
  3. Neutral
  4. This billLikely Support
  5. Strongly Support

Likely Support

The bill directly protects Christians' ability to worship without harassment or intimidation, reinforcing the First Amendment right to religious exercise and the safety of families and children at church. For Christian parents, this offers legal recourse against disruption of their family's religious practice.

AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • religious-liberty advocacy organizations — Federal law should protect people's First Amendment right to worship without harassment or intimidation.
  • religious congregations and institutions — Places of worship need explicit legal protection against disruption and harassment of worshippers.

Likely opposition

  • civil-liberties and free-speech groups — Broadly defining and criminalizing 'harassment' near churches could chill legitimate protest and speech.
  • LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations — Such laws may be used to silence protest or counter-speech outside places of worship.

AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

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Official summary

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harassment of persons lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship, within a distance of 100 feet or closer to such place of religious worship, and for other purposes.

Sponsors

  • Thomas Suozzi (D)
  • Max Miller (R)
  • Josh Gottheimer (D)
  • Gus Bilirakis (R)
  • Bradley Schneider (D)
  • Randy Weber (R)
  • Joyce Beatty (D)
  • David Kustoff (R)
  • Nicholas Langworthy (R)
  • Laura Gillen (D)
  • Juan Ciscomani (R)
  • Jimmy Panetta (D)
  • Jennifer Kiggans (R)
  • Daniel Goldman (D)
  • Dan Meuser (R)
  • Eugene Vindman (D)
  • Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
  • Maggie Goodlander (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2026-04-09Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.H
  2. 2026-04-09Introduced in HouseH

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly