National Guard Protective Zone Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7898
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-06T13:09:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation establishes federal criminal penalties for interfering with designated protective zones around National Guard members during certain deployments, aiming to protect their official duties.
Key Provisions
- Creates a new offense in title 18 of the U.S. Code for knowingly entering or remaining in a "posted protective zone" around a National Guard member with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with duties.
- Defines a posted protective zone as an area extending no more than 15 feet from the member, marked by verbal warning, visible signage, barricade tape, or similar means.
- Applies only during deployments authorized under chapter 15 of title 10 or under title 32.
- Sets base penalties of a fine, up to 1 year imprisonment, or both.
- Increases the maximum prison term to 5 years if the violation involves physical contact with, throwing an object at, or spitting on the National Guard member.
- Includes a rule stating the law does not restrict First Amendment-protected activity conducted outside the zone.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds section 1390 to chapter 67 of title 18, United States Code, introducing a new federal misdemeanor and felony-level offense where none previously existed for this specific conduct.
- Updates the table of sections for chapter 67 to include the new provision.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires coordination between the Department of Defense, National Guard, and Department of Justice for enforcement during qualifying deployments.
- Citizens: Limits public access within marked zones near National Guard members, potentially affecting protests or gatherings, while preserving protected speech outside those zones.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of the National Guard and their commanding officers.
- Individuals or groups interacting with National Guard deployments, such as demonstrators or bystanders.
- Federal law enforcement and prosecutors responsible for charging violations.
- State governments when National Guard units operate under title 32 authority.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The explicit carve-out for First Amendment activity outside posted zones addresses potential free speech concerns.
- The 15-foot zone definition and intent requirement may raise questions about enforcement clarity in practice.
- The bill focuses on protecting federal and state-authorized National Guard operations without altering broader deployment authorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Guard Protective Zone Act — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (3 pages)