Pennsylvania HB2318: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of interference with religious worship.

What the bill says

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of interference with religious worship.

From the introduced text, March 26, 2026:

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of interference with religious worship. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a section to read: § 5508.1. Interference with religious worship. (a) Offense.--A person commits the offense of interfering with religious worship if, with the intent to prevent, disrupt or materially interfere with a permitted religious worship service or access to a religious place of worship, the person: (1) Knowingly enters or remains inside of a place of religious worship after being lawfully notified to leave and by remaining materially interrupts or disrupts lawful religious activities. (2) By force, threat or physical obstruction: (i) Injures, intimidates or physically interferes with a person lawfully exercising religious worship. (ii) Blocks or impedes ingress or egress from a place of religious worship. (b) Grading.--Violations of this section shall be graded as follows: (1) A violation of subsection (a)(1) shall be graded as a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) A violation of subsection (a)(2) shall be graded as a misdemeanor of the second degree. (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Kerry Benninghoff (R, 171) · primary sponsor
• Michael Armanini (R, 75)
• Aaron Bernstine (R, 8)
• Brown, Marla (R, 9)
• Jill Cooper (R, 55)
• Mark Gillen (R, 128)
• Joseph Hamm (R, 84)
• Robert KAUFFMAN (R, 089)
• Roman Kozak (R, 14)
• Charity Grimm Krupa (R, HD-051)
• Andrew Kuzma (R, 39)
• Milou Mackenzie (R, 131)

Latest actions

1. March 26, 2026: Referred to JUDICIARY, March 26, 2026

Common questions

What is HB2318?

HB2318 is a bill in the Pennsylvania Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of interference with religious worship.

What does HB2318 do?

In its own words: Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of interference with religious worship.

What is the status of HB2318?

In committee as of March 26, 2026. Latest action: Referred to JUDICIARY, March 26, 2026 (March 26, 2026).

Who sponsored HB2318?

Kerry Benninghoff (R, 171), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB2318?

On the Pennsylvania Legislature website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2318