Ohio bill would make disrupting worship services a felony

Ohio Republicans have introduced legislation that would make intentionally disrupting religious services a felony in the state, responding to a recent high-profile incident in Minnesota involving Don Lemon.

House Bill 662, sponsored by Reps. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, and Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, was introduced Jan. 29, 2026. If passed, the bill would elevate the penalty for disturbing a lawful religious meeting from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony when the disruption involves obstructing or interfering with worship, whether online or in-person at churches, synagogues, mosques or other houses of worship.

While the offense is already illegal under current Ohio law, updated in 2023 through House Bill 504, the penalty is a first-degree misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. By increasing the penalty, however, offenders could face felony charges, up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $2,500 — giving prosecutors additional enforcement tools.

The bill was prompted by an anti-ICE protest that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators targeted a pastor reportedly involved with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That event drew national attention and arrests, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who took part in the event.

Fischer emphasized that the measure protects religious freedom without curbing peaceful expression outside worship settings.

“While every American has the right to peacefully protest ICE or any other government entity, they do not have a right to storm into a place of worship and disrupt another American’s right to freely practice their religion,” Fischer said in a statement.

“We cannot allow our country to be a place where families fear they may face harassment or see their religious services disrupted by activists attempting to score political points while attending church on a Sunday morning,” Fischer added. “Our state should not tolerate this behavior and must stand strong in protecting the rights of Ohioans of all faiths to freely practice their religion.”

Newman highlighted the importance of protecting God-given rights.

“I will do everything possible to ensure Ohioans’ God-given First Amendment right to free exercise of religion is protected along with houses of worship and worshippers,” Newman said in a release. “I am glad to join Rep. Fischer sponsoring this important legislation.”

The legislation does not limit peaceful protests generally. Sponsors have noted potential amendments, including one allowing the Ohio Attorney General to prosecute if local authorities decline.

The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 4 but had not yet received a hearing. It carries 21 Republican co-sponsors, with no Democrats signed on.

The proposal aligns with efforts in other states following the Minnesota disruption and builds on Ohio’s prior law by increasing the legal tools available to address incidents like the 2020 anti-Semitic Zoom bombings of Jewish services and a 2021 abortion rights protest at a Columbus Catholic Mass.