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119-s-3558119th Congress

National Guard Protective Zone Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federal offense for knowingly entering a posted protective zone around National Guard members during deployments. A "posted protective zone" would be any area within 15 feet of a Guard member that is marked by a verbal warning, visible signage, barricade tape, or other reasonable means. Entering or remaining in that zone with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with a Guard member's duties would be punishable by a fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both. If the offender makes physical contact, throws an object at, or spits on the Guard member the maximum penalty would be up to 5 years. The bill preserves protected First Amendment activity conducted outside a posted protective zone and adds new Section 1390 to chapter 67 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New protective zones for National Guard

This bill would make it a federal crime to enter or stay inside a posted protective zone around a National Guard member during certain deployments. A 'posted protective zone' would be an area no more than 15 feet from the member and must be marked by a verbal warning, sign, barricade tape, or similar. The bill would ban knowingly entering or remaining in that zone with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the member's official duties. Violators could be fined, jailed for up to 1 year, or both. If the offender makes physical contact, throws an object at, or spits on the member, the jail term could be up to 5 years. The bill would not prohibit First Amendment activity that happens outside a posted protective zone.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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