US lawmakers propose 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship
Bipartisan Right to Worship Act would impose civil penalties for protests disrupting religious services
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
US lawmakers propose 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship
Photograph: Jerusalem Post (embedded from source)
What this story says
- The Right to Worship Act would establish a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship during services, with civil penalties for protesters who disrupt them.
- The bill is sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Representatives Brad Knott (R-NC) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).
- Houses of worship would not be required to disclose their schedules under the legislation, which targets conduct rather than the content of protests.
- The New York City Council passed a similar local bill in March after pro-Palestinian protests outside synagogues.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 7 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 1 of the 8 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
60/100
Craft
87/100
Hype
15/100
8 sources · methodology
Thin on the left so far
Only 1 of the 7 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated left.
This story is still being watched, so it is a count and not yet a finding. Coverage keeps arriving for hours after an event, and a side that has published nothing this morning may publish by tonight. If it is still true when we stop checking, we will say so plainly.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced the Right to Worship Act on 6 August 2026, proposing a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship during religious services. The bill would impose civil penalties on protesters who knowingly disrupt scheduled services, though it does not require houses of worship to make their schedules public. Sponsors include Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Representatives Brad Knott (R-NC) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).
The legislation follows a series of protests outside synagogues in New York City, where the city council passed a similar local bill in March. The federal bill’s sponsors emphasise that it targets the conduct of protesters rather than the content of their speech. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said the measure would prevent worshippers from having to "push through a hostile crowd" to pray.
Civil rights groups have opposed buffer zone laws, arguing they could chill First Amendment protections. The Right to Worship Act provides pathways for individuals and state attorneys to seek court orders and damages in federal court. It is the latest in a series of federal efforts to insulate houses of worship from protests, including Suozzi’s earlier SACRED Act, which has not advanced in the House.
What the coverage left out
None of the right-rated digests mentioned the opposition from civil rights groups or the New York City Council’s local buffer zone bill. The centre-rated Newsday digest also omitted civil rights opposition. The unrated thelakewoodscoop.com digest did not address penalties or opposition.
“No one should have to push through a hostile crowd or shout over a bullhorn in an attempt to pray.”
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 4 times, most recently on 8 Aug 2026, 10:15, and will add the sides that appear.
How other outlets pictured it
Which photograph to run is each newsroom’s own choice. The leaning beside a name is that outlet’s published rating, not a claim that the pictures divide along it. Every picture is shown from the outlet’s own server and links to the article it ran in.
US lawmakers propose 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship
Jewish Telegraphic Agency — embedded from source
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
1 rated outlet
- The Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s report led on the bipartisan nature of the bill and the involvement of Senators Cruz and Slotkin. It quoted Cruz’s statement that "the First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith," and Suozzi’s remark that worship should not require "particular courage." The report noted opposition from civil rights leaders who warned of a chilling effect on First Amendment protections.
Centre
2 rated outlets
- The Jerusalem Post’s report highlighted the bill’s aim to protect houses of worship from disruptive demonstrations, particularly following pro-Palestinian protests outside synagogues. It quoted Cruz’s statement on the First Amendment and Greenblatt’s comment that no one should have to "push through a hostile crowd" to pray. The report also noted the New York City Council’s local buffer zone bill and the opposition it faced from civil rights groups.
- Newsday’s digest focused on Suozzi’s role in the bill and the broader debate over buffer zones near religious institutions. It did not include details on penalties or opposition from civil rights groups.
Right
4 rated outlets
- Fox News’s digest led on the potential for tougher penalties under the bill, framing it as a "rare bipartisan crackdown." It did not mention the New York City Council’s local bill or opposition from civil rights groups.
- WIN’s digest emphasised the 100-foot buffer zone and the bill’s focus on protesters who disrupt scheduled services. It noted that houses of worship would not be required to disclose their schedules but did not mention civil rights opposition.
- Jewish Insider’s digest highlighted Slotkin’s involvement alongside Cruz, Knott, and Suozzi, describing the bill as banning activity that "knowingly disrupts or impedes access" to religious services. It did not address opposition from civil rights groups.
- The New York Sun’s digest framed the bill as an effort to "make safe America’s religious sanctuaries" but provided no details on penalties, opposition, or the New York City precedent.
Read it at the source
8 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
1Centre
2Right
4- Church protesters could face tougher penalties under rare bipartisan crackdown (opens Fox News in a new tab)
- US lawmakers seek 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship to protect prayer goers from protests (opens WIN in a new tab)
- Slotkin joins Cruz, Knott, Suozzi in leading federal buffer zone bill (opens Jewish Insider in a new tab)
Jewish Insider — is Jewish Insider biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Protecting Prayer From Intimidation (opens The New York Sun in a new tab)
The New York Sun — is The New York Sun biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
Not rated
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