California Legislature approves Safe Worship Zone Act, now awaiting Newsom’s stamp

The act was authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and sponsored by Jewish California, ADL, JCRC Bay Area, and Jewish Federation LA.

California Legislature has given its final approval for the Safe Worship Zone Act, which creates a 100-foot zone around entrances to houses of worship so no one can approach congregants within eight feet without consent.

The bill passed the Senate floor 34-0, with six abstentions on Thursday evening, and the Assembly floor 49-2, with 28 abstentions on Monday. It now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.

The act was authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and sponsored by Jewish California, ADL, JCRC Bay Area, and Jewish Federation LA. It is modeled on Colorado’s bubble zone law around reproductive health clinics, which has been upheld by the US Supreme Court.

The Safe Worship Zone Act does not harm the constitutional right to protest or the right to assembly, but it ensures that people can enter and leave their house of worship without being surrounded, blocked, confronted, or intimidated.

“Every Californian, no matter their faith, should be able to walk to their place of worship without fear of being surrounded or intimidated,” said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California.

“This bill faced sustained, organized opposition, and it passed because lawmakers listened to people of every faith who said the same thing: let us pray in peace. We’re grateful to Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan and to our interfaith partners for standing behind this effort,” he added.

“California is sending a clear message: everyone has the right to practice their faith safely and freely,” said Bauer-Kahan.

“The rise of antisemitism is undeniable, and our communities must be protected. AB 2664 gives communities an important tool to push back against harassment and intimidation, and protect the sanctity of our houses of worship.”

Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto the legislation.

CAIR California opposes Safe Worship Zone Act

The California branch of the Council on Arab and Islamic Relations (CAIR) opposed the act, saying it would “put peaceful protesters and community advocates at risk for engaging in lawful First Amendment activity in public spaces around religious institutions.”

It argued that houses of worship do not only host religious services, but often also host political speakers, advocacy events, community forums, political rallies, and commercial events featuring “foreign military personnel, extremist speakers, or real estate companies involved in settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.”

“California can protect houses of worship without giving religious institutions special exemptions from public accountability or undermining First Amendment rights,” it said.