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Bill would create crime for threats motivated by official duties, lawmakers told
Summary
Senate Bill 473A would create a new offense for knowingly conveying threats to public officials motivated by their official duties; sponsors and municipal groups said officials face mounting threats, while committee members asked about overlap with existing crimes and about who the statute should protect.
The House Committee on Judiciary heard April 23 from sponsors and municipal representatives on Senate Bill 473A, a measure that would create the crime of threatening a public official when a communication knowingly conveys a threat that instills fear of imminent serious physical injury and is motivated by the recipient’s public office or duties.
Senator Anthony Broadbent, who presented the bill, said it is a response to a growing national and local trend of threats against public servants. He described the measure as a narrowly tailored statutory gap‑filler that preserves free political expression while addressing violent threats motivated by an official’s role. "We’re witnessing a…
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