National Guard Protective Zone Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3558 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3558

To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal penalties 
         for interfering with National Guard protective zones.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2025

 Mr. Cotton (for himself and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal penalties 
         for interfering with National Guard protective zones.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Guard Protective Zone 
Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERFERENCE WITH NATIONAL GUARD PROTECTIVE ZONE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 67 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1390. Interference with National Guard protective zone
    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `posted protective 
zone' means an area around a member of the National Guard--
            ``(1) the perimeter of which is not more than 15 feet from 
        the member; and
            ``(2) that is marked by a verbal warning, visible signage, 
        barricade tape, or other reasonable means.
    ``(b) Offense.--It shall be unlawful, during a deployment 
authorized under chapter 15 of title 10 or under title 32, for any 
person to knowingly enter or remain within a posted protective zone 
with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the official 
duties of a member of the National Guard who is within the posted 
protective zone.
    ``(c) Penalties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
        person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this 
        title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
            ``(2) Aggravated penalty.--If, in the course of committing 
        a violation of subsection (b), a person makes physical contact 
        with, throws an object at, or spits on the member of the 
        National Guard, the maximum term of imprisonment under 
        paragraph (1) shall be 5 years.
    ``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit activity protected by the First Amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States that is conducted outside a posted 
protective zone.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 67 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``1390. Interference with National Guard protective zone.''.
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