The South Dakota Senate advanced a bill that would increase penalties for people who disrupt worship services with violence or threats. The legislation would change the existing crime from a misdemeanor to a felony. That could mean time in a state prison instead of a county jail, and a bigger fine. Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre sponsors the legislation..
The bill goes to the House next. That chamber rejected a similar bill that would have addressed the same kind of activity by creating a new kind of trespassing law. Both bills are reactions to a recent event in Minnesota. Protesters there disrupted a worship service where one of the pastors works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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