Read the full stored bill text
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
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation,
providing for the offense of swatting.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 4905.1. Swatting.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of
swatting if by means of a telecommunications device or
telecommunications service the person intentionally or knowingly
makes or causes to be made a false report of a crime or medical
or other emergency:
(1) To a law enforcement agency, firefighter, fire
company, emergency medical services agency or provider, 911
system operator or a government employee or contractor or an
employee of a contractor who is authorized to receive a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
report of a crime or medical or other emergency.
(2) Under circumstances where the report is reasonably
likely to cause an emergency response and the report does
cause an emergency response.
(b) Nonapplicability.--This section does not apply to a
person conducting an authorized emergency drill.
(c) Grading.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraphs (2) and (3), an
offense under this section constitutes a felony of the third
degree.
(2) If an individual suffers bodily injury in response
to a false report, an offense under this section constitutes
a felony of the second degree.
(3) If an individual suffers serious bodily injury in
response to a false report, an offense under this section
constitutes a felony of the first degree.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Bodily injury." Impairment of physical condition or
substantial pain.
"Serious bodily injury." Bodily injury which creates a
substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent
disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function
of any bodily member or organ.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1912PN2393 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26