DISTURBING RELIGIOUS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES

F.S. Ch. 871
in effect

F.S. 871.01 Disturbing schools and religious and other assemblies.

(1)(a) Whoever willfully and maliciously interrupts or disturbs any school or any assembly of people met for the worship of God, any assembly of people met for the purpose of acknowledging the death of an individual, or for any other lawful purpose commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (b) If a person commits a violation of paragraph (a) and in doing so makes a credible threat, as that term is defined in s. 784.048(1), he or she commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (c) If the penalty for a violation of this subsection is reclassified under s. 775.085, such a violation is considered a hate crime for purposes of the reporting requirements of s. 877.19. (2) Whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs any assembly of people met for the purpose of acknowledging the death of an individual with a military funeral honors detail pursuant to 10 U.S.C. s. 1491 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 871.02 Indictments or informations for disturbing assembly.

The several grand juries of this state in their respective counties may return indictments or the several state attorneys of the state in their respective circuits may file information against all persons violating s. 871.01, and such indictments or informations, when filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where such offense is alleged to have been committed, shall be forthwith certified by the clerk to some court in the county having jurisdiction to try and determine such charge, and said court to which such indictment or information is certified shall proceed to try and determine such charge upon such indictment or information, the same as if affidavit had been made before such court charging the said offense.

F.S. 871.04 Advertising; religious discrimination; public places.

(1) Except where the context clearly requires a different meaning, the following terms shall have for the purposes of this section the meaning respectively ascribed to them: (a) “Person” means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not. (b) “Establishment” means any building or part thereof, including, without being limited to, public inns, hotels, motels, apartment hotels, any structure, enclosure, tract of land, and all improvements, appurtenances, and additions, bodies of water whether natural or artificial, and any other place of whatsoever nature to which the general public is or will be admitted, allowed, or invited on payment of a fee, free of charge, or otherwise. (2) No person, directly or indirectly, for herself or himself or for another, shall publish, post, broadcast by any means, maintain, circularize, issue, display, transmit, or otherwise disseminate or place in any manner before the public with reference to an establishment any advertisement that the patronage of any person is not welcome, or is objectionable, or is not acceptable because of the person’s religion. No person shall cause or solicit another person to violate this section. (3) This section shall not apply to any establishment which is private or limited to membership only, to any camp administered by any religious organization, group, or sect, admission to which is based on religious belief or affiliation, or to any gathering, meeting, or assembly held under the auspices of any religious organization, group, or sect. (4) Any person or persons violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 871.05 Interference with a sporting or entertainment event.

(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Covered event” means an athletic competition or practice, including one conducted in a public venue, or a live artistic, theatrical, or other entertainment performance event. The duration of such event includes the period from the time when a venue is held open to the public for such an event until the end of the athletic competition or performance event. (b) “Covered participant” means an umpire, officiating crew member, player, coach, manager, groundskeeper, or any artistic, theatrical, or other performer or sanctioned participant in a covered event. The term includes event operations and security employees working at a covered event. (c) “Restricted area” means any area designated for use by players, coaches, officials, performers, or other personnel administering a covered event that is on, or adjacent to, the area of play or performance. (2) A person may not: (a) Intentionally touch or strike a covered participant during a covered event against the will of the covered participant, or intentionally cause bodily harm to a covered participant during a covered event; (b) Willfully enter or remain in a restricted area during a covered event without being authorized, licensed, or invited to enter or remain in such a restricted area; or (c) Willfully enter or remain in a venue during a ticketed covered event wherein attendance exceeds 5,000 persons, without being authorized, licensed, or invited to enter or remain in such venue. (3) A person who: (a) Violates paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $2,500. (b) Violates paragraph (2)(c) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (c) Solicits another person to violate subsection (2) by offering money or any other thing of value to another to engage in specific conduct that constitutes such a violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (4) A person convicted of a violation of this section may not realize any profit or benefit, directly or indirectly, from committing such a violation. Any profit or benefit payable to or accruing to a person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to seizure and forfeiture as provided in the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.

F.S. 871.015 Unlawful protests.

(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Funeral or burial” means a service or ceremony offered or provided in connection with the final disposition, memorialization, interment, entombment, or inurnment of human remains or cremated human remains. (b) “Funeral procession” has the same meaning as provided in s. 316.1974. (c) “Protest activities” means any action, including picketing, which is undertaken with the intent to interrupt or disturb a funeral or burial. (2) A person may not knowingly engage in protest activities or knowingly cause protest activities to occur within 500 feet of the property line of a residence, cemetery, funeral home, house of worship, or other location during or within 1 hour before or 1 hour after the conducting of a funeral or burial at that place. This subsection does not prohibit protest activities that occur adjacent to that portion of a funeral procession which extends beyond 500 feet of the property line of the location of the funeral or burial. (3) A person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter871/AllFetched: 7/8/2026