Senate panel sends RS 31967 — a swatting criminalization print hearing — to print

The Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee voted to send RS 31967 to print after a presentation by sponsor Senator Tammy Nichols explaining the proposed revisions to Idaho law to explicitly criminalize “swatting” — false emergency reports intended to provoke large‑scale law enforcement responses.

The bill would revise Idaho Code section 18‑333 to add a specific offense for false reports of violence or emergencies in public or private places, and align penalties with those already used for analogous crimes, the sponsor said. Nichols told the committee the measure is a “proactive” step to deter false reports that endanger civilians, tie up public safety resources and impose costs on taxpayers.

Nut graf: Nichols said the state recorded 15 swatting incidents in the prior year that affected churches, businesses and public buildings, and argued that current false‑report statutes are not tailored to address the particular dangers and escalation involved in swatting.

Committee members questioned specific language in the draft, including the use of the word “caused” in felony penalty provisions; Nichols said the language mirrors existing statutory phrasing used for offenses such as involuntary manslaughter and was chosen to maintain consistency with current code.

A motion from Senator Ricks, seconded by Senator Foreman, carried to send RS 31967 to print. The sponsor asked the committee to print the RS so the Legislature could consider formal statutory language in a bill draft.

Ending: RS 31967 will be printed for drafting and formal introduction; if printed, a bill number would be assigned and the measure would return to committee for hearings on any proposed statutory language.