Unintended Consequences for the Faith Community Remain a Concern in Public Disorder Bill

The FCCB opposes HB 1 (Fernandez-Barquin), as it is unnecessary and potentially harmful. According to the sponsor, the bill is intended to address public disorder in response to recent riots. However, any violence committed during a riot, or at any time, is already prosecutable, and it is unnecessary to raise penalties for those crimes. Additionally, some broad terms in the bill could potentially criminalize some of our ministries' public activities such as praying in front of an abortion facility, sidewalk counseling, and prayer vigils against the death penalty. The bill could be considered by the full House chamber as early as next week. The FCCB highlighted its concerns with the measure in a letter to the bill sponsor.

Pictured above: Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate director for social concerns and respect life, testifies in opposition to HB 1 before its final committee, House Judiciary.