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WA SB5436

Bill

Status

Engrossed

3/3/2025

Primary Sponsor

Jesse Salomon

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates a new criminal offense (gross misdemeanor) for willfully or recklessly interfering with access to places of worship immediately before, during, or after religious services

  • Prohibits specific conduct including physically obstructing passage, trespassing, making repeated harassing phone calls or electronic communications, and threatening injury to owners, employees, attendees, or property

  • Allows aggrieved individuals to recover up to $500 per day in civil damages, or up to $5,000 per day if the aggrieved party is the place of worship itself, plus actual damages, costs, and attorneys' fees

  • Authorizes courts to issue temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief without bond to stop violations

  • Explicitly protects lawful picketing and providing public information, and does not limit other available criminal or civil remedies

Legislative Description

Interfering with access to a place of religious worship.

Last Action

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

3/2/2026

Committee Referrals

Rules2/25/2026
Community Safety1/26/2026
Rules4/27/2025
Community Safety3/5/2025
Rules2/14/2025
Law & Justice1/22/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available