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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Senate Bill 1296 Establishes Criminal Trespass Penalties for Churches and Houses of Worship
Last action · March 23, 2026: Signed by Governor on 03/19/26 Session Law Chapter 78 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho Senate Bill 1296 establishes criminal trespass penalties for entering or remaining on church or house of worship premises without permission while intending to intimidate, harass, or disrupt services. First-time offenders face a charge punishable by up to six months in jail and fines between $500 and $1,000, effective July 1, 2026.
The measure creates specific criminal penalties and charges for unauthorized disruptions at religious facilities, impacting individuals who enter houses of worship with intent to harass or disturb congregations.
- State Bill 1296 was introduced by the Senate Affairs Committee during the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Religious congregations and church operators
Churches and houses of worship gain explicit statutory protections against unauthorized disruptions and harassment during religious services.
Individuals entering houses of worship
Visitors and members face potential misdemeanor or felony criminal charges, fines, and jail time if they enter church premises without permission with intent to disrupt services.
Key Facts
- A person commits criminal trespass as a misdemeanor when entering or remaining on church or house of worship premises without permission with the intent to intimidate, harass, or disrupt a religious service or assemblage.
- First-time offenders violating the church trespass provision face up to six months in jail and fines ranging from $500 to $1,000.
- Second-time violations of criminal trespass provisions within five years carry up to six months in jail, fines between $1,500 and $3,000, and a one-year hunting or fishing license suspension if applicable.
- Offenders with two or more trespass convictions within ten years face up to one year in jail and fines from $5,000 to $10,000.
Show all 8 facts
- Trespassing accompanied by property damage exceeding $1,000 constitutes criminal trespass with damage, carrying enhanced misdemeanor or felony penalties depending on prior offenses.
- Courts are required to order restitution in accordance with section 19-5304, Idaho Code, for any violation.
- Landowners or their agents retain the right to revoke permission to enter or remain upon property at any time and for any reason.
- The act declares an emergency and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes criminal trespass at a church under this law?
What are the penalties for a first-time church trespass conviction?
Does this law affect individuals who enter a church with permission or for valid reasons?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
20 actions- Mar 23, 2026EnrolledSigned by Governor on 03/19/26 Session Law Chapter 78 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 19, 2026Reported delivered to Governor at 11:15 a.m. on 03/19/26
- Mar 19, 2026Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
- Mar 18, 2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
- Mar 18, 2026Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
- Mar 17, 2026CommitteeReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
Show 14 earlier actions
- Mar 17, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 70-0-0 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug(Chadwick), Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – None Floor Sponsor - Rasor Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 16, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Mar 13, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 16, 2026
- Mar 12, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Friday, March 13, 2026
- Mar 11, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Mar 10, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 9, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 4, 2026IntroducedRead First Time, Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
- Mar 4, 2026Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 3, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Bruner(Adams), Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – None Absent and excused – Ruchti, Semmelroth Floor Sponsor - Anthon Title apvd - to House
- Feb 26, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Feb 25, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 16, 2026CommitteeReported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Feb 13, 2026IntroducedIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Criminal Trespass to Religious Facilities
The bill explicitly integrates houses of worship into Idaho's criminal trespass framework, establishing tailored penalties for disruptions of religious services distinct from general property trespass.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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