OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2011

Contact: Rep. Patrick Sheehan 503-986-1451 Rep. Jim Weidner 503-986-1424

HOUSE PASSES FUNERAL CIVILITY ACT

SALEM—The House today passed HB 3241 to prevent picketing and other disruptive activities at funeral services, burial services and  other memorial services. Rep. Patrick Sheehan (R-Clackamas) and Rep. Jim Weidner (R-Yamhill) introduced the bill to help protect families, especially those of fallen service members, from funeral protests. 

“The Funeral Civility Act allows families to grieve without disruptions or protests,” Rep. Sheehan said.  “The bill has been amended to respect free speech rights, and will spare families the emotional pain of funeral picketing.”

Under HB 3241, a funeral or memorial organizer may “reserve” public property within 400 feet where a service is to be conducted and exclude individuals, such as protesters, who are not invited to attend.  If a local government charges a fee for the reservation, they must provide a waiver for funeral services of military service members.

In addition, the bill prohibits people, under certain circumstances, from disrupting a funeral service within 1,000 feet of where the service is conducted.

“Oregonians deserve such collaborative and decisive action, and I’m confident that we have protected free speech and the freedom to mourn, by maintaining the equilibrium between disorder and order, lawlessness and laws, and vulgarity and civility” said Rep. Jim Weidner (R-Yamhill).

HB 3241 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

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