HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — State representative and Hixson native Greg Martin is proposing a bill that would make any action to “intentionally obstruct, disturb or interfere with the activities of the religious institution” a misdemeanor crime.

This comes after an anti-ICE protester interrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota last month.

Bishop Kevin Adams of Olivet Baptist Church in Chattanooga says political protest has no place in a church.

“It is a sacred place in every house of worship, and it should be just that,” Says Bishop Adams. “It’s even interesting that we’re living in times where that’s been questions or we have to even address that.”

In 2021, a man named Marcus Trammell Williams interrupted a service at Olivet Baptist Church. Police charged Williams with assault after he punched the church’s youth pastor in the face.

Adams says for there needs to be consequences for those actions, and for the actions of anyone who comes in to disrupt church services in general.

Tennessee is making a statement that we’re not going to have it here or that we’re going to make some serious steps to deter people from this type of behavior.

According to the bill, interruptions in places of worship would be considered a class B misdemeanor. Violators would face up to 6 months behind bars, and could be fined up to $500.

If signed into law, it will go into effect on July 1st.

Tennessee’s wildlife supports public health, outdoor access and a multi-billion-dollar economy. Relying almost entirely on hunters and anglers to fund it is neither fair nor sustainable.

As a physician, I have spent much of my career focused on prevention. Long before illness requires treatment, the environments we live in shape our physical and mental health. In Tennessee, few environments matter more than our outdoors, and in the outdoors, nothing is more therapeutic than our fish and wildlife.  

Public lands, waterways and wildlife are not just recreational assets. They are places where Tennesseans walk, fish, hunt, paddle and spend time with family. Access to these spaces supports physical activity, reduces stress and strengthens mental health. These benefits reach communities across the state and contribute directly to overall public health.  

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There is also a clear economic and fiscal connection. Outdoor recreation and wildlife-related activity supported by responsible management generate billions of dollars in income each year, support well over 200,000 Tennessee jobs and return nearly $2 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. These jobs span tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, retail and small businesses that rely on well-managed land and water. A healthy environment supports healthy people and a healthy economy. When wildlife management is underfunded, the economic and public health consequences follow.  

The consequences of a funding imbalance  

Maintaining these benefits requires steady and responsible management. Wildlife populations must be monitored. Habitat must be conserved. Public lands and access points must remain safe and usable. These responsibilities exist regardless of economic cycles or inflation and require consistent funding to be carried out effectively.  

Today, the way wildlife management is funded no longer reflects how widely these resources are used. Hunters and anglers currently provide 81 percent of the funding through license fees and federal excise taxes, even though they represent a minority of users. Sportsmen have carried this responsibility for decades and remain deeply committed to conservation. But asking one group to shoulder nearly the entire cost of a public resource that benefits all Tennesseans is neither fair nor sustainable.  

This imbalance also places pressure on hunting and fishing access. Relying solely on license fees risks pricing that can discourage participation in activities that promote physical health and connection to our wildlife resources. It also fails to recognize that wildlife management benefits everyone, including families seeking to be active outdoors. 

A fiscally responsible path toward sustainability 

A dedicated general fund support offers a sustainable approach. It will help safeguard hunting and fishing access, reduce pressure for repeated fee increases and protect one of Tennessee’s most reliable economic engines. Just as importantly, it will provide stability so wildlife management can focus on long-term planning rather than short-term budget constraints.