The US Protest Law Tracker follows state and federal legislation introduced since January 2017 that restricts the right to peaceful assembly. For more information, visit our Analysis of US Anti-Protest Bills page.
45 states have
considered 385 bills
60 enacted 27 pending
According to the bill's title, it would create an affirmative defense in criminal and civil cases related to "motor vehicle incidents" involving someone who is convicted of "riot." In social media posts, the bill's sponsor said it would "allow Americans to run over" people protesting in the street.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 1 Aug 2025.
Issue(s): Driver Immunity, Riot
Would add rioting-related offenses to the list of predicate offenses under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Under the bill, entitled the "Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots" (Stop FUNDERS) Act, an organization or individual found to have "conspired" with individuals to engage in or encourage a protest that is deemed a "riot" could be prosecuted under RICO. Sponsors of the bill cited entities that fund or coordinate protests as potential targets for the legislation. A violation of RICO can lead to up to 20 years in prison and seizure of assets. Third parties can also bring civil suits if injured by a RICO violation and potentially receive treble damages.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 22 Jul 2025.
Issue(s): Civil Liability, Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot
Would shield people from civil lawsuits for killing or injuring protesters in certain situations, if they were acting in self-defense. Under the bill, a person could not be civilly sued for causing death, personal injury, or property damage if they were acting in self-defense and their actions “arose from another individual’s conduct in furtherance of a riot.” Neither the bill nor existing Michigan law define what would constitute “conduct in furtherance of a riot,” a vague phrase that could cover a range of lawful and nonviolent actions connected to a protest that was deemed a “riot,” such as handing out water bottles or joining in a protest chant. If enacted, the bill could encourage violence by drivers and others against people who are participating in or supporting a protest.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 13 Aug 2025.
Issue(s): Driver Immunity, Riot
Would extend civil liability for damage resulting from certain protests to organizers and supporters, broadly defined. Under current Missouri law, any participant in an “unlawful or riotous” assembly is liable for property damage or personal injury caused by the assembly. The bill expands this liability to anyone “directing, advising, encouraging, or soliciting” the assembly, including “organizers and sponsors” of such assemblies. The bill would newly make such parties jointly and severally liable, such that any one defendant could be held liable for all damages. As such, for instance, a bystander who cheers on a protest that is later deemed unlawful and results in any damaged property could be sued by the property owner for “encouraging” the protest. The bill does not require knowledge or intent to further unlawful activity in order for civil liability to apply.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 10 Feb 2026.
Issue(s): Civil Liability, Riot
Would expand the legal definition of "riot," a third degree offense under the bill, to include any group of three or more individuals whose shared intent to engage in disorderly and violent conduct results in "imminent danger" of property damage or personal injury, or actual damage or injury. Notably, the new definition does not require that the individuals' conduct be disorderly or violent, or that they commit any actual damage or injury. Under the bill, a "riot" consisting of 25 or more people, or one that "endangers the safe movement of a vehicle," is automatically an "aggravated riot," a new crime of the second degree under the bill. As such, large groups of protesters or ones that block traffic, even temporarily, could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, "inciting" someone to participate in a riot is a crime of the third degree, punishable by 5 years in prison. "Aggravated incitement," which results if there is property damage over $5,000 is a crime of the second degree, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill also creates a new criminal offense of "mob intimidation," defined as a group of three or more people who act with a "common intent" to compel "or attempt to compel" another person to "do or refrain from doing any act," or "assume, abandon, or maintain a particular viewpoint" against their will. The offense is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The bill could also encourage violence against protesters by creating a new affirmative defense in civil lawsuits for personal injury, death, or property damage, such that a defendant could avoid liability by establishing that the injury, death, or damage they committed "arose from" conduct by someone "acting in furtherance of a riot." Finally, the bill creates a new civil right of action against a municipal government that fails to provide "respond appropriately to protect persons and property during a riot or unlawful assembly," making them civilly liable for damages, including personal injury or property damage. These provisions, if enacted, could encourage municipal governments to adopt overly aggressive law enforcement responses to protests in order to avoid lawsuits. The same bill was proposed as S 399/A 4714 in 2024.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 13 Jan 2026.
Issue(s): Driver Immunity, Riot, Traffic Interference, State Liability, Stand Your Ground
Would make it a felony offense to purposely or recklessly obstruct a public road while engaging in "disorderly conduct" or a "riot," punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Both "disorderly conduct" and "riot" are defined broadly under New Jersey law: "Disorderly conduct," for instance, could include "recklessly creating a risk" of "public inconvenience" by causing a "hazardous condition," or using "unreasonably loud and offensively coarse" language in a public place. The bill would also broaden the definition of "riot," such that a group of seven or more people who engage in "disorderly conduct" and cause any damage to property could face riot charges, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $15,000. The bill would create a new felony offense for disorderly conduct in a "place of public accommodation" that is committed during a "riot." It would also establish a felony offense for chalking or using graffiti on a public monument during an unruly protest: Current law penalizes purposely defacing or damaging any public monument or structure as a disorderly persons offense, subject to six months in jail. The bill would make the same offense a felony punishable by a year and a half in prison and $10,000, if committed during a "riot." The same bill was proposed as S652/A4610 in the 2024-2025 session.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 13 Jan 2026.
Issue(s): Riot, Traffic Interference
Would make it a felony offense to purposely or recklessly obstruct a public road while engaging in "disorderly conduct" or a "riot," punishable by up to a year and a half in prison and a $10,000 fine. Both "disorderly conduct" and "riot" are defined broadly under New Jersey law: "Disorderly conduct," for instance, could include "recklessly creating a risk of public inconvenience" by causing a "hazardous condition," or using "unreasonably loud and offensively coarse" language in a public place. The bill would also broaden the definition of "riot," such that a group of five or more people who engage in "disorderly conduct" and cause any damage to property or persons could face riot charges, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $15,000. Individuals who deface a monument during an unruly protest would also face heightened penalties under the bill: Current law penalizes defacing or damaging any public monument or structure as a disorderly persons offense, subject to six months in jail. The bill would make the same offense a felony punishable by a year and a half in prison and $10,000, if committed during a "riot." The bill would create new sanctions for protest organizers and patrons, as well: Under the bill, a person who "conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager to commit" one of a number of crimes during a protest would be guilty of "promotion of violent, disorderly assembly" and face enhanced criminal penalties. The same bill was introduced as S834/A3489 in the 2024-2025 session.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 13 Jan 2026.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot, Traffic Interference
Increases penalties under Oklahoma’s anti-rioting law that could cover nonviolent demonstrators. Preexisting Oklahoma law defines “riot” to include a group of three people who threaten to use force or violence, as well as those who actually use any force or violence. As such, demonstrators can be prosecuted for “riot” even if they didn’t engage in any violence. Before HB 3581 was enacted, it was a misdemeanor to “unlawfully obstruct the normal use” of any road while participating in a "riot"; under the new law, such obstruction is a Class D3 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and $5,000. The law also expands criminal liability for demonstrators who “vandalize[]” or “deface[]” any building or other structure, making such act a felony punishable by up to four years in prison if committed in the course of a "riot."
(See full text of bill here)Status: enacted
Introduced 15 Jan 2026; Approved by House 11 March 2026; Approved by Senate 27 April 2026; Signed by Governor Stitt 12 May 2026
Issue(s): Riot, Traffic Interference
Would make a violation of the state's law on "riot" an aggravating factor for sentencing of certain other crimes. Under the bill, steeper criminal penalties would apply, for instance, to the offense of trespass, if the offense was committed while the defendent engaged in a protest that was deemed a "riot." Pennsylvania law defines "riot" broadly to include participating in "disorderly conduct" with two or more people with intent to facilitate a misdemeanor--a definition that could cover, for instance, a noisy protest that involves a misdemeanor offense like blocking the sidewalk. As a result, under the bill, someone who trespasses while part of such a protest could face additional prison time.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 31 Jul 2025.
Issue(s): Riot, Trespass
Would create a new felony offense for knowingly organizing, controlling, or financing a "riot." The bill defines "financing" as "contributing more than a de minimus amount of money or materials to aid in a riot"; "organizing" is defined as "knowingly arranging or planning" a riot. Pennsylvania law defines "riot" broadly to include participating in "disorderly conduct" with two or more people with intent to facilitate a misdemeanor--a definition that could cover, for instance, a noisy protest of three people that involves a misdemeanor like blocking the sidewalk. As a result, under the bill, someone who knowingly plans such a protest, or donates to an advocacy group to support such a protest, could face up to seven years in prison.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 31 Jul 2025.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot
Establishes a new basis for civil lawsuits against protest organizers and supporters. Under the law, a claimant may seek damages from someone who compensates another person to participate in a protest, if the participant’s conduct satisfies the elements of certain crimes. The specified crimes include “disorderly conduct,” “obstructing a highway or passageway,” and “disrupting meetings,” among others, though the law does not require that the participant was ever convicted in order for civil liability to apply. The law defines “compensation” broadly to include not only salary or payment but any “valuable consideration,” and defines a “demonstration” as a public gathering of one or more people “protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue.” Under the law, groups whose employees engage in protests or advocacy as part of their work could face civil lawsuits, based on allegations that the employee was engaged in disorderly conduct (which can include making “unreasonable noise”), blocking a sidewalk, or disrupting public hearings or other government meetings.
(See full text of bill here)Status: enacted
Introduced 2 Feb 2026; Approved by Senate 12 March 2026; Approved by House 26 March 2026; Signed by Governor Lee 13 April 2026
Issue(s): Civil Liability, Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot, Traffic Interference
For more information about the Tracker, contact Elly Page at EPage@icnl.org.
