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CS/HB 1571 — Residential Picketing
by Criminal Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee and Rep. Maggard and others (CS/CS/SB 1664 by Rules Committee; Judiciary Committee; and Senators Perry and Boyd)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Judiciary Committee (JU)
The bill addresses unlawful assemblies that specifically target residences to harass or disturb people inside their homes. Specifically, the bill makes it a criminal offense to picket or protest before or about another person’s home in order to harass or disturb the person in his or her home. A person who engages in the prohibited conduct commits a second degree misdemeanor.
The bill provides that before a person may be arrested for this criminal offense, a law enforcement officer must command the person to disperse from the unlawful assembly. If the person does not immediately and peaceably disperse, only then may he or she be arrested for unlawful residential picketing.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect October 1, 2022.
Vote: Senate 28-3; House 76-41