--- title: "US lawmakers propose 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-08T09:25:30.229Z" source_reported: "2026-08-07T10:30:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-08T09:25:30.229Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-07T15:25:21.688Z" --- # 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* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Trust 60: multiple named lawmakers and a civil rights leader are quoted, and two independent full reports corroborate the bill details. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87: explains protest context, includes quotes from sponsors and ADL, separates facts, provides specific names and figures. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no clickbait or exaggerated claims beyond the factual report. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - 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. 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. > > — Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 57% (4) 1 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-07T15:25:21.688Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-08T11:30:16.963Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - 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 - 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 - 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. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/church-protesters-could-face-tougher-penalties-under-rare-bipartisan-crackdown) — Church protesters could face tougher penalties under rare bipartisan crackdown - [WIN](https://worldisraelnews.com/us-lawmakers-seek-100-foot-buffer-zone-around-houses-of-worship-to-protect-prayer-goers-from-protests) — US lawmakers seek 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship to protect prayer goers from protests - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/diaspora/article-904837) — US officials push for bill to create buffer zone around places of worship - [thelakewoodscoop.com](https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/agudath-israel-announces-support-for-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-access-to-houses-of-worship) — Agudath Israel Announces Support For Bipartisan Bill to Protect Access to Houses of Worship - [Jewish Telegraphic Agency](https://jta.org/2026/08/06/politics/lawmakers-seek-100-foot-buffer-zone-around-houses-of-worship-to-protect-prayer-goers-from-protests) — Cruz, Slotkin lead bipartisan push for federal protest buffer around houses of worship - [Jewish Insider](https://jewishinsider.com/2026/08/slotkin-cruz-knott-suozzi-federal-buffer-zone-bill-jewish-groups-support) — Slotkin joins Cruz, Knott, Suozzi in leading federal buffer zone bill - [The New York Sun](https://nysun.com/article/protecting-prayer-from-intimidation) — Protecting Prayer From Intimidation - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/long-island/politics/suozzi-buffer-zone-d8vwsdsi) — Suozzi bill would create buffer zones for protests at places of worship ## Questions **What does the Right to Worship Act propose?** The Right to Worship Act proposes a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship during services, with civil penalties for protesters who disrupt them. It aims to protect worshippers from disruptive protests but does not require houses of worship to disclose their schedules. **Who are the sponsors of the Right to Worship Act?** 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). It is a bipartisan effort to address protests disrupting religious services. **Why do civil rights groups oppose buffer zone laws?** Civil rights groups argue that buffer zone laws could chill First Amendment protections by restricting protest activity. They warn that such laws may limit free speech rights near houses of worship, as noted in opposition to New York City’s local bill. **What prompted the introduction of the Right to Worship Act?** The bill follows a series of pro-Palestinian protests outside synagogues in New York City, where the city council passed a similar local buffer zone law in March. The federal bill aims to address disruptions to religious services nationwide. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US lawmakers propose 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-lawmakers-propose-100-foot-buffer-zones-around-houses-of-worship