Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5436: Worship/access interference
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Interfering with access to a place of religious worship.
What the bill says
An act Relating to interfering with access to a place of religious worship; adding a new chapter to Title 9A RCW; and prescribing penalties. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to interfering with access to a place of religious worship; adding a new chapter to Title 9A RCW; and prescribing penalties. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that access to places of worship is imperative to the free exercise of religion in the state of Washington and that impaired access to places of worship raises substantial concerns regarding public safety and congestion of public thoroughfares. Ensuring the safety and unobstructed access of individuals entering and exiting places of worship is therefore a compelling government interest and essential for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety. Toward that end, this chapter is aimed at making unlawful conduct that would interfere with a person's lawful exercise of that person's religious freedom under the state Constitution and United States Constitution. The legislature further finds that the protection of such persons from such interference can be accomplished without infringing on constitutionally protected speech or activity and affirms that its intent is to not seek to favor one viewpoint over another or to limit speech regarding any specific topic. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Aggrieved person" means any of the (b) The religious organization or its employees or agents who control or maintain the …
Sponsors
- Jesse Salomon (D) · primary sponsor
- Javier Valdez (D)
- Lisa Wellman (D)
- John Braun (R)
- Mike Chapman (D)
- Adrian Cortes (D)
- Manka Dhingra (D)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- Tina Orwall (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
- Mark Schoesler (R)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : Minority; do not pass.
- : CS - Majority; do pass with amendment
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 4:00 PM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Community Safety.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- House Committee on Community Safety: Do pass as amended (February 24, 2026): 8 yea, 1 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (January 21, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (March 3, 2025): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Law & Justice: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5436 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (February 13, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, CRIMES
Common questions
- What is SB5436?
- SB5436 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Worship/access interference.
- What does SB5436 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to interfering with access to a place of religious worship; adding a new chapter to Title 9A RCW; and prescribing penalties. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5436?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5436?
- Jesse Salomon (D), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5436?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5436&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.