Rep. Edwards: Swatting crackdown bill passes

Bill that Increases Penalties for Swatting Passes
By Oregon State Representative Darcy Edwards

SALEM, Ore. — Today, the Senate passed House Bill 4151, a bipartisan bill that strengthens penalties for knowingly initiating a false report—commonly known as swatting.

Swatting is a dangerous form of criminal harassment where a perpetrator knowingly makes a hoax call to emergency services, and falsely reports a violent emergency—such as a hostage situation, bomb threat, or active shooter. The goal is to deceive authorities into dispatching a heavily armed SWAT team or tactical unit to an innocent person’s address.

Under current law, swatting is a Class A misdemeanor. House Bill 4151 escalates cases that cause serious injury or death to a Class C felony.

“Across the nation and right here in Oregon, we have seen emergency systems exploited to create fear, chaos, and political harassment,” said State Representative Darcey Edwards (R-Banks). “This bipartisan legislation makes Oregon safer for families, for students, for our communities, and for the public servants who keep us secure.”

“Making swatting a felony in cases that cause injury or death delivers an unequivocal message that intentionally deceiving law enforcement is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated,” said Representative Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay). “This legislation provides much-needed robust legal recourse for a crime that risks lives, depletes critical emergency resources, and compromises public safety.”

House Bill 4151 cleared the Oregon Senate in a bipartisan vote of 28 to 0. The measure now moves to the governor’s desk for her signature.