Rep. Edwards: House passes bill increases penalties for Swatting

House Passes Bill that Increases Penalties for Swatting 
By Oregon State Representative Darcey Edwards,

SALEM, Ore. — Today, the House passed HB 4151, which strengthens penalties for initiating a false report—commonly known as swatting.

Swatting is a dangerous form of criminal harassment where someone knowingly makes a hoax call to emergency services and falsely reports a violent emergency—such as an active shooter, hostage situation, bomb threat, or murder—in order to provoke a heavily armed law enforcement response, often involving SWAT teams or tactical units, at an innocent person’s location.

“In recent years, swatting has increasingly targeted public officials, candidates, and those with outspoken views to harass, silence, or terrorize them—exploiting emergency systems to create fear, chaos, and potential for deadly confrontations,” said Representative Darcey Edwards (R-Banks).

Under current law, this offense is a Class A misdemeanor. HB 4151 elevates cases that cause serious injury or death to a Class C felony.

“This bipartisan measure sends a clear message that those who abuse our 911 system will face serious consequences,” said Rep. Edwards. “By increasing accountability in the most severe cases,  this bill helps protect everyday Oregonians, safeguards our schools and communities, and preserves trust in emergency responders so they can focus on genuine threats.”

HB 4151 passed with broad bipartisan support in a vote of 52 to 3. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.