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.
Latest updates: Oct. 2, 2024 (New Jersey), Aug. 22, 2024 (Mississippi, US Federal), Aug. 1, 2024 (US Federal)
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Washington
HB 2358: New criminal penalties for protesters on highways
Would create two new crimes that could cover highway protesters and organizers of highway protests. Under the bill, someone in a group of four or more people who intentionally and unlawfully obstruct traffic on a state highway commits “obstructing highways,” a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. However, the “leader or organizer” of such a group commits a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000. The bill does not define "leader or organizer" or indicate how that role would be designated. A second offense, “obstructing highways in disregard for public safety,” would cover groups of four or more who intentionally obstruct traffic on a state highway and create a risk of injury or property damage, impede an ambulance, or refuse to disperse when ordered to do so. The offense is a Class C felony.
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See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 15 Jan 2024.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
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Washington
HB 2358: Heightened penalties for highway protesters and organizers
Would introduce a new offense that could cover participants and organizers of protests on state highways. Under the bill, anyone in a group of four or more people who intentionally block vehicles by unlawfully standing, sitting, or walking on a highway would be guilty of “obstructing highways,” a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and $5,000. A “leader or organizer” of the group would be guilty of a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000. The bill does not define what constitutes a “leader” or “organizer.” Members of the group would also be guilty of a Class C felony if while blocking a highway they “create[] a risk” of property damage or injury, or if they refuse or fail to disperse after being ordered to do so. Individuals who have previous convictions of disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, obstructing highways, “or similar criminal behavior from other jurisdictions” would be required to pay a fine of at least $6,125 and serve a minimum 60-day sentence if they commit the offense of obstructing highways. Sponsors of the bill cited protests for a ceasefire in Gaza that blocked portions of an interstate.
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See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 15 Jan 2024.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Traffic Interference
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Washington
SB 6160: Heightened penalties for protests that block traffic
Would create a new felony offense that could cover street protesters who obstruct traffic and refuse to disperse. Under current state law, if a group of four or more individuals includes anyone whose conduct creates a substantial risk of injury or substantial property damage, each member of the group commits a misdemeanor if law enforcement orders them to disperse and they refuse to do so. The bill would raise this offense to a Class C felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $10,000, if individuals refuse to disperse from a public road and are obstructing traffic. The bill would also increase the penalty for intentionally and unlawfully blocking vehicular or pedestrian traffic, from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor, such that protesters who block a sidewalk could face up to 1 year in jail and $5,000.
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See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 11 Jan 2024.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
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Washington
SB 5456: New penalties for "swarming" a car during a protest, and provision for driver immunity
Would create a new offense, "swarming" defined as one or more people participating in a protest or demonstration who "knowingly approach, surround, block" or "otherwise unlawfully impede or attempt to impede" the progress of a vehicle on a public street, highway, or parking lot. The offense of "swarming" applies regardless of whether the protest the people were participating in is authorized by a permit or not. It is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine; a subsequent offense is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The bill also provides that a driver who injures someone while trying to avoid or flee from people engaged in "swarming," "disorderly conduct," or "criminal mischief" is immune from a civil lawsuit, as long as the injury was unintentional. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 15 Feb 2021.
Issue(s): Driver Immunity, Traffic Interference
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Washington
SB 5310: Steep penalties for protesters who block traffic, for protest organizers, and an expansive new "riot" offense
The bill creates a new felony offense that could be levied against protesters who block traffic on a highway. According to the bill, a group of four or more people who make passage on a highway "unreasonably inconvenient" without legal authority to do so, are guilty of "obstructing a highway," a Class C felony punishable by 5 years in prison and $10,000. The bill also provides civil immunity for a driver who injures or kills someone on the highway if the driver was "reasonably attempting" to avoid or "flee" the person. The bill creates a new felony offense of "leading an organized riot," an act sufficiently broadly defined to include organizing or supporting a peaceful protest that is deemed unlawful. Under the bill, "organizing, managing, directing, supervising, or financing" a group of three or more people with the intent "to promote the accomplishment of a pattern of criminal mischief," constitutes "leading an organized riot," a Class C felony. The bill would newly criminalize "riot," using a broad definition that could encompass peaceful protesters. The bill defines "riot" to include knowingly and unlawfully participating in an assembly with seven or more people, with "acts of conduct within that group" that create a "substantial risk" of property damage or personal injury. The offense does not require that an individual personally act in a way that threatens personal injury or property damage. For instance, if an individual joins a very large, spontaneous protest that does not have a permit, and someone "within that group" threatens to damage property, the individual could be charged with "riot." The offense is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Finally, the bill would waive the immunity of any "political subdivision," including counties, cities, and towns, making them civilly liable for property loss or personal injury resulting from any "riot" or "unlawful assembly" if law enforcement have not exercised "reasonable care or diligence" to prevent or "suppress[]" the riot or assembly. In such an event, the bill provides that the subdivision may be further subject to a fine of $10,000 per day, and lose up to one-half of its share of the state's "criminal justice assistance account" for up to one year. These provisions, if enacted, could encourage local governments to adopt overly aggressive law enforcement responses to protests, in order to avoid lawsuits. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 20 Jan 2021.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Driver Immunity, Riot, Traffic Interference, State Liability
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Washington
SB 5941: New penalties for protesters who conceal their identity
Would prohibit a person from "wearing a mask, hood, or device where any portion of the face is covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer" when they are on public or state-owned property including, e.g., during a protest. Under the bill, commission of this offense is punishable as a gross misdemeanor. State Senator Jim Honeyford said he sponsored this bill in response to vandalism and violence that he believes occurs "under the guise of political speech," that threatens citizens' "safety and welfare." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 22 May 2017; reintroduced 8 January, 2018.
Issue(s): Face Covering
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Washington
SB 5009: Heightened penalties for protests that block traffic and interfere with "economic activities"
Would target protests that disrupt roadways, railroads, and other "legally permitted economic activities." The bill heightens penalties for illegal actions that aim to create economic harm by impeding legally-permitted economic activities. According to the bill, if a court finds that the perpetrator of another offense intended to cause economic disruption, his or her sentence can be extended 60 days for a misdemeanor, six months for a gross misdemeanor, and 12 months for a felony. The bill provides that those who fund or sponsor such actions can be charged as accomplices. The state senator who sponsored the bill indicated in November 2016 that it was drafted to respond to protests aimed at disrupting economic activities, which he deemed tantamount to "economic terrorism." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Jan 2017; reintroduced 8 January, 2018.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
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