Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB540: AN ACT relating to interference with a religious service.
Status: In committee, February 10, 2026
Amend KRS 525.010 to define "religious organization" and "religious service"; make technical corrections to existing definitions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to establish the crime of interference with a religious service as a Class A misdemeanor; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil cause of action for interference with a religious service; amend KRS 525.200 to conform.
What the bill says
An act relating to interference with a religious service.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to interference with a religious service. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 525.010 is amended to read as follows: As used[The following definitions apply] in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Desecrate" means defacing, damaging, polluting, or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover his or her action;[.] (2) "Public" means affecting or likely to affect a substantial group of persons;[.] (3) "Public place" means a place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access and includes but is not limited to highways, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement[amusements], parks, places of business, playgrounds, and hallways, lobbies, and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence. An act is deemed to occur in a public place if it produces its offensive or proscribed consequences in a public place;[.] (4) "Religious organization" means an organization, a religious society, a church or other house of worship, a body of communicants, or a group organized or operated for religious purposes, regardless of whether it is integrated or affiliated with a church or other house of worship; (5) "Religious service" means a meeting, gathering, …
Sponsors
- Mitch Whitaker (R, HD-094) · primary sponsor
- Robert Duvall (R, HD-017)
- Peyton Griffee (R, HD-026)
- David Hale (R, HD-074)
- T.J. Roberts (R, HD-066)
Latest actions
- : to Judiciary (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Criminal Procedure, Crimes And Punishments, Corrections Impact, Attorney General, Civil Actions, Civil Procedure, Religion
Common questions
- What is HB540?
- HB540 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to interference with a religious service.
- What does HB540 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to interference with a religious service.
- What is the status of HB540?
- In committee as of February 10, 2026. Latest action: to Judiciary (H) (February 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB540?
- Mitch Whitaker (R, HD-094), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB540?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb540.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.