SACRED Act

Key Points

• The SACRED Act would make it a federal crime to harass, intimidate, or block people trying to enter or leave places of religious worship. It covers any conduct within 100 feet of a house of worship that causes someone to reasonably fear for their physical safety.
• The bill also bans intentionally approaching within 8 feet of a person near a place of worship to harass them. This creates a personal space buffer on top of the 100-foot zone around the building itself.
• Penalties range from up to one year in prison for a first offense to up to life in prison if someone dies as a result. For nonviolent first offenses, fines are capped at $10,000 and jail time at six months.
• Victims and houses of worship can file civil lawsuits and collect at least $5,000 per violation even without proving specific financial losses. The U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general can also bring civil actions on behalf of the public.
• The bill explicitly protects peaceful protests and picketing outside places of worship, as long as they do not cross the line into harassment or blocking access. It also does not replace any existing state or local laws that address similar conduct.
• Places of religious worship are broadly defined to include buildings, structures, or spaces used primarily for worship, religious education, or instruction, as well as their parking lots and driveways.