Senate Bill 118: Ban on funeral protesters could become law in Florida

State senators are expected to vote Tuesday on a bill that could ban people from protesting outside of funerals for service men and women.

If approved, Senate Bill 118 would become law in October of this year.

The bill states that people cannot picket or engage in protest activities within 500 feet of a house of worship, cemetery, funeral home or residence.

The picketing would be banned within an hour before or after the funeral or burial of a military service member, emergency response worker, elected official or minor.

If the bill becomes law, anyone found guilty of violating it would be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill targets protesters like those found in the Westboro Baptist Church.

The anti-gay religious group targets soldiers' funerals around the country.

They've even targeted the funerals of fallen soldiers in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

The group doesn't only target service men and women.

The group tried to picket outside the funeral of the principal from Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

Their efforts were thwarted though by a group of 'Good Samaritans.'