Committee member Florijan Boras of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) vehemently objected to the bill, saying those responsible at the Interior Ministry should withdraw it and resign.
A state secretary at the ministry, Ivica Buconjic, dismissed assessments that the law was too restrictive, saying the amendments did not undermine citizens' constitutional rights, but provided for protection from terrorist acts.
Boras said no such incident had ever occurred at a public rally, adding that "not even Chile under Pinochet had such restrictive measures". He accused those who moved the bill of "wanting to turn Croatia into a police state".
Boras asked Buconjic to withdraw the bill and resign, and then walked out of the session, leaving the committee without a quorum.
The other members were agreed the bill would enable the police to interpret the law broadly and undermine the right to public assembly.
Dragutin Lesar of the People's Party (HNS) said that under the bill, public assembly could be banned anywhere where a senior European Union official happened to be.
Ljubica Lalic of the Peasant Party (HSS) said that although politicians disliked to listen to protests, the government's duty was not to ban public assembly, but remove its causes.
HDZ committee members Luka Bebic and Petar Bosnjakovic said it was important to ensure the safety of protected persons, but that provisions on public assembly should be acceptable.
Buconjic told the press after the session the government would consider all remarks this afternoon, after trade unions and employers stated their opinions at a session of the Economic and Social Council.
Earlier today, the union of workers in agriculture, food-processing, the tobacco industry and water management called on all trade unions and citizens' associations to oppose the proposed ban.