Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1606: Crimes; offense of disruption of a worship service; provide
Status: In committee, April 2, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for the offense of disruption of a worship service; to provide for legislative findings, to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for the offense of disruption of a worship service; to provide for legislative findings, to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for the offense of disruption of a worship service; to provide for legislative findings, to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) The right of the people to meet and assemble for religious worship is imperative for the people of this state; (2) The Georgia Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion and prohibits the government from burdening that free exercise by state or local law; (3) The prohibition in the Georgia Constitution against laws burdening the free exercise of religion naturally contemplates laws protecting the exercise of religion; (4) The right to engage in a peaceful protest is essential to a free society of people, and the right unambiguously extends to public forums traditionally open to political speech H. B. 1606 LC 48 1791 and debate, including public streets, sidewalks, and parks; provided, however, that such right has never been interpreted to authorize the trespass and disruption of private …
Sponsors
- David Clark (R, HD-098) · primary sponsor
- Houston Gaines (R, 120)
- Tim Fleming (R, 114)
- Mitchell Horner (R, 3)
- Josh Bonner (R, 73)
Latest actions
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
- : House Hopper
Common questions
- What is HB1606?
- HB1606 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Crimes; offense of disruption of a worship service; provide.
- What does HB1606 do?
- In its own words: To amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for the offense of disruption of a worship service; to provide for legislative findings, to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB1606?
- In committee as of April 2, 2026. Latest action: House Second Readers (April 2, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1606?
- David Clark (R, HD-098), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1606?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74517
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.