US Congress introduces buffer zone bill meant to protect houses of worship
Bipartisan legislation aims to block protest disruptions to scheduled religious services, comes after caustic rallies outside synagogues
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLuke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
US Congress members on Thursday announced legislation that aims to create buffer zones around synagogues and other houses of worship to protect worshippers from protests.
The legislation came after vitriolic anti-Zionist protests at synagogues around the US and after similar legislative efforts in American states and cities.
The so-called buffer zone bills are generally opposed by progressive groups due to perceived threats to free speech.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the “Right to Worship Act” to the US Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday.
The legislation, if passed, would create a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship where protests would not be allowed during scheduled religious services.
The bill would make it “unlawful to knowingly disrupt or impede people from attending” services, US Representative Tom Suozzi, a moderate Democrat from New York who sponsored the House bill, said in a statement.
The other sponsors are US Representative Brad Knott, a North Carolina Republican, and Senators Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan.
The bill’s text says it would bar individuals from “knowingly disrupting” or “knowing impeding people from participating” at scheduled religious services, including through threats or intimidation.
Violators would be subject to civil fines of $2,500 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense, and $10,000 for subsequent violations. The bill would also allow individuals, the US attorney general and state attorneys general to sue offenders.
The legislation says it would not bar people from “freely speaking on any subject” within certain time, place and manner restrictions, or outlaw activities for which authorities have issued a permit.
The legislation has the endorsement of leading Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, Agudath Israel of America, the Orthodox Union, Hadassah, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Federations of North America and the UJA-Federation of New York.
Other supporters including the Hindu American Foundation, the Islamic Society of North America and United Sikhs.
The ADL said in a statement that it had documented nearly 530 incidents of harassment at US synagogues in 2025.
Suozzi said Thursday’s bill was an improved version of similar legislation, the SACRED Act, that he introduced earlier this year.
The Times of Israel Community.