Oppose Anti-Protest Bills That Threaten First Amendment Rights

I am writing to urge you to oppose Senate Bills 1635 and 1093, and House Bills 2136, 2862, and 4117. These bills threaten fundamental First Amendment protections under the guise of public safety, and I ask that you vote against them at every opportunity. Senate Bill 1635 would criminalize warning others about law enforcement presence, including blowing a whistle or gesturing, making it a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and $2,500 in fines. Sharing information about law enforcement activities in public spaces is protected speech. This bill creates a dangerous gray area where constitutionally protected communication becomes criminal. Senate Bill 1093 expands riot laws to make property damage by any group member a Class 5 felony and adds rioting to conspiracy statutes. This means an entire protest group could face felony charges for a single person's actions, and prosecutors could frame ordinary protest planning meetings as criminal conspiracy. As the ACLU notes, this turns a fundamental right into a legal trap. House Bill 2136 creates new felonies for "civil terrorism" and "subversion," carrying up to 2.5 years in prison. Under this bill, someone blocking a roadway during a protest could be labeled a civil terrorist. The language is dangerously vague, particularly regarding subversion, which could target anyone criticizing government actions. Even with amendments clarifying that advocacy and dissent are protected, the bill's broad language invites abuse. House Bill 2862 enhances criminal penalties for wearing masks during illegal activity, which would punish religious expression and costume as speech. House Bill 4117 criminalizes "profane discourse" or "unnecessary noise" near religious services, a content-based speech ban that violates the First Amendment. These bills do not enhance public safety. They criminalize constitutionally protected activities and chill free speech. I urge you to stand with civil liberties and vote no on all five bills.