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Senate committee advances anti-swatting bill after law enforcement testimony
Summary
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1019, which would create a distinct offense for false reports of violence or large-scale emergencies (commonly called "swatting"), to the Senate floor with a "do pass" recommendation after testimony from law enforcement and supporters.
The Idaho Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on the motion of Senator Jeff Foreman voted to send Senate Bill 1019 to the full Senate with a "do pass" recommendation after testimony from law enforcement leaders and policy advocates.
Sen. Tammy Nichols, sponsor of SB 1019, told the committee the bill would "explicitly criminalize false reports of violence or emergencies in public or private places," update Idaho Code section 18-333, and provide definitions and penalties tailored to the risks posed by swatting. "The primary goals in this bill is to deter false emergency reports, protecting public and private safety, and preventing the waste of law enforcement resources," Nichols said.
The bill's backers described swatting as an escalating public-safety problem. Chief Tracy Bastoreccia of the Meridian Police Department, representing the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, said swatting calls are "very, very realistic" and can prompt officers to respond at full emergency speed, placing the public and officers at risk. "These aren't calls that are called in that this might happen. They come in as if they are occurring in real time," Bastoreccia said.
Rex Ingram, president of the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and Caldwell police chief, said Idaho has seen a rise in swatting incidents, particularly affecting schools in 2022–23. He described a local incident that required multiple agencies to respond to what turned out to be a false report. "I think that this bill is a is a great start to keeping Idaho safe," Ingram said, adding that elevating the offense could allow extradition and prosecution of out-of-state offenders.
Fred Birnbaum of the Idaho Freedom Foundation testified in support and noted the bill keeps the mens rea requirement that the reporter knew the report was false. Nichols and witnesses said the state has tracked at least 21 known incidents since 2023 and that the FBI has begun national tracking; Nichols said the average cost of a swatting response is about $20,000.
Senator Lakey, presiding, noted the potential for lethal consequences when officers respond at emergency speed to a fabricated threat. On a voice vote after brief discussion, the committee approved the motion to send SB 1019 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.
The bill text excludes threats involving explosives, which Nichols said are already covered under a separate section of Idaho law.
