A South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will be held on Tuesday to discuss a bill that would change penalties for preventing the practice of religion.
The bill would change the penalty for using threats or violence to prevent the practice of religion from a misdemeanor to a class 6 felony. It would allow the action to be punishable by up to two years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
Governor Larry Rhoden said images from an ICE protest in a St. Paul's church that disrupted the service encouraged him to take action.
Rhoden said he has spoken with Willam Graham who supports the bill and is a name-brand faith leader.
Some state religious leaders have expressed their frustration that Rhoden didn’t consult them before supporting the proposal.
Reverend Jean Morrow, Chair of the South Dakota Faith in Public Life, said she would have appreciated that before bringing the bill about churches, there would have been a conversation between faith leaders and lawmakers about whether or not the bill is necessary.
