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Senate committee backs printing of bill to criminalize dangerous “swatting” calls
Summary
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee heard from sponsor Senator Tammy Nichols on RS31967, a measure to explicitly criminalize 'swatting' and increase penalties by revising Idaho Code. The committee voted to send the proposal to print.
The Idaho Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee heard testimony and voted to send RS31967 — a measure to explicitly criminalize so‑called "swatting" incidents — to print.
Senator Tammy Nichols, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure would "address the dangerous and escalating issues of swatting, which poses significant risk to public safety, private individuals, and government resources." She said the proposal revises Idaho Code section 18‑333 to criminalize false reports of violence or emergencies and aligns penalties with comparable crimes already in statute.
Nichols told the committee the bill provides "clear definitions to ensure consistent enforcement" and "establishes penalties appropriate to the severity of the offense." She said the draft matches existing penalty language in Idaho code for related crimes so enforcement and sentencing would be consistent.
Committee members asked technical questions about the statutory wording and penalties. Senator Foreman asked for clarification about the term "caused" in the portion of the draft addressing felony liability, and Nichols responded that the language mirrors existing code used for involuntary and voluntary manslaughter and similar offenses. Senator Ricks asked whether the bill differed from last year’s version; Nichols said penalties were refined to align with current code after feedback in the House.
Nichols told the committee packeted examples showed about 15 swatting incidents in the prior year that disrupted churches, businesses and even the Capitol Building. She said the measure is intended to deter false emergency reports, protect public and private safety, and reduce waste of law‑enforcement resources.
After discussion, Senator Ricks moved to send RS31967 to print; Senator Foreman seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; no opposition was recorded and the motion carried.
The committee’s action forwards the draft to the next phase (printing) so lawmakers and stakeholders can review precise statutory text before any formal bill introduction or hearing on a printed bill.
