HB 1912 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, providing for the offense of swatting.

PRINTER'S NO.   2393

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1912
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, KUZMA, STAATS, SMITH, STENDER,
        STAMBAUGH, K.HARRIS, CUTLER, SHAFFER, RADER, MOUL, HOGAN,
        RYNCAVAGE, ROWE, FLOOD, KAUFFMAN, PUGH, GOUGHNOUR AND GILLEN,
        SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 1, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation,
 3      providing for the offense of swatting.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.      Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 4905.1.      Swatting.
 9      (a)   Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of
10   swatting if by means of a telecommunications device or
11   telecommunications service the person intentionally or knowingly
12   makes or causes to be made a false report of a crime or medical
13   or other emergency:
14            (1)    To a law enforcement agency, firefighter, fire
15      company, emergency medical services agency or provider, 911
16      system operator or a government employee or contractor or an
17      employee of a contractor who is authorized to receive a
 1      report of a crime or medical or other emergency.
 2            (2)   Under circumstances where the report is reasonably
 3      likely to cause an emergency response and the report does
 4      cause an emergency response.
 5      (b)   Nonapplicability.--This section does not apply to a
 6   person conducting an authorized emergency drill.
 7      (c)   Grading.--
 8            (1)   Except as provided under paragraphs (2) and (3), an
 9      offense under this section constitutes a felony of the third
10      degree.
11            (2)   If an individual suffers bodily injury in response
12      to a false report, an offense under this section constitutes
13      a felony of the second degree.
14            (3)   If an individual suffers serious bodily injury in
15      response to a false report, an offense under this section
16      constitutes a felony of the first degree.
17      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
18   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
19   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
20      "Bodily injury."    Impairment of physical condition or
21   substantial pain.
22      "Serious bodily injury."    Bodily injury which creates a
23   substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent
24   disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function
25   of any bodily member or organ.
26      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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