Bills · S 38
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 38Civil actions and liabilityFirst responders and emergency personnel
Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 9· LAST ACTION JAN 9
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because "swatting" is a dangerous and growing problem that puts lives at risk and wastes valuable public resources. When emergency services respond to fake calls, they are diverted from real emergencies, potentially delaying help for someone truly in need. Swatting incidents can also lead to tragic outcomes, with innocent people or first responders being injured or even killed during responses to non-existent threats.
If this bill becomes law, it will establish clearer, tougher federal penalties for those who engage in swatting, aiming to deter these harmful acts. It also provides a way for police and fire departments to recoup the significant costs associated with these responses, which currently often fall to taxpayers. If it doesn't become law, the current legal framework may continue to be seen as insufficient to effectively combat the dangers and financial burden of swatting incidents, potentially allowing the practice to persist with less severe consequences for perpetrators.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Expands federal criminal penalties for intentionally conveying false or misleading information that causes an emergency response.
This aims to hold perpetrators of "swatting" and similar hoaxes accountable under federal law, broadening the types of false calls that are considered federal crimes.
PROVISION 02
Establishes significantly enhanced criminal penalties if serious bodily injury (up to 20 years imprisonment) or death (up to life imprisonment) results from the false emergency call.
This provision underscores the severe danger of swatting incidents and seeks to provide justice for victims and deter actions that can lead to harm or fatalities.
PROVISION 03
Allows for a civil action where the person making the false call is liable for expenses incurred by any party responding to the emergency.
This gives emergency services and other affected parties a means to recover the financial costs associated with responding to hoax calls, reducing the burden on taxpayers.
PROVISION 04
Defines "emergency response" broadly to include any deployment of personnel or equipment, evacuation orders, or warnings by public safety agencies.
A clear and broad definition ensures that various types of hoax calls resulting in official responses are covered under the law.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· Florida
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
185
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 9
Introduced in Senate
JAN 9
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 38
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 9, 2025
Last actionJan 9, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025
Senate BillS 38Civil actions and liabilityFirst responders and emergency personnel
Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 9, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 9, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
