The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday for county attorneys to draft an ordinance establishing a “bubble zone” that protects individuals entering or exiting a hospital, medical clinic, or healthcare facility, as well as researching the feasibility of expanding the application of a “bubble zone” to include sensitive sites such as places of worship, public facilities, community centers, and other locations where identity-based gatherings are conducted, or services are administered.

The ordinance would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who obstructs or blocks another person from entering or exiting these facilities and would be modeled after Colorado’s “bubble zone” law and would prohibit a person from approaching an individual within a radius of 100 feet from entrances to affected locations to pass out a leaflet, displaying a sign, or engaging in oral protest.

On January 23, 2024, in a motion introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents most of the Westside, the Board of Supervisors adopted the motion, “Emergency Response, Notifications, and Protections for Sensitive Sites,” requesting the chief executive office and county counsel to report back on the feasibility of enacting a “bubble zone” ordinance countywide.

“The exercise of a person’s right to protest must be balanced against another person’s right to access and obtain health care services, access education, and exercise their freedom to worship in a safe and unobstructed manner,” according to the motion by Horvath.

“Even here in Los Angeles County, we have seen how intimidation is used to prevent community members from entering facilities to receive essential services. Bubble Zones are how we meaningfully protect personal safety,” the motion read.

The board directed the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to inform and train its deputies on the new ordinance upon enactment, as well as conduct a forum to educate the 88 cities within the County of Los Angeles of the new ordinance and encourage the cities to adopt a similar ordinance.

“Los Angeles County has a responsibility to ensure our community members can safely receive medical care, practice their faith, or access their schools,” Horvath, the Board’s Chair, said in a press release. “Even here in Los Angeles County, we have seen how intimidation is used to prevent community members from entering facilities to receive essential services—bubble zones are how we meaningfully protect personal safety.”

Once completed, the proposed ordinance will be returned to the board for approval.

Photo courtesy of Supervisor Horvath’s office.