Minneslate Logo

SF3372 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Swatting criminal penalties expansion provision

Related bill: HF3209

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This legislative bill aims to enhance public safety by imposing stricter penalties for swatting incidents, which involve making false emergency calls to provoke a large law enforcement response.

Main Provisions

  • Swatting Penalties: The bill proposes increased criminal penalties for individuals found guilty of swatting.
  • Mandatory Life Sentences: It introduces amendments to existing statutes that concern the conditions under which individuals serving mandatory life sentences may be eligible for supervised release.
  • Supervised Release Restrictions: Specifically, it affects those convicted under certain clauses related to swatting preventing them from being considered for supervised release without serving a minimum term of imprisonment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Amendment to Statutes: The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 244.05 and 609.78, thereby increasing the severity of punishments related to swatting by aligning them with stricter mandatory life sentences similar to other serious offenses.

Relevant Terms

  • Public safety
  • Swatting
  • Criminal penalties
  • Supervised release
  • Mandatory life sentence
  • Minnesota Statutes sections 244.05, 609.78

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
April 10, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
April 10, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
April 10, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional clauses preventing supervised release for specific crimes."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill increases criminal penalties related to supervised release for certain offenders under section 244.05 subdivision 4.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the minimum terms of imprisonment required for supervised release for life sentences."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "244.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specifies new penalties for false emergencies leading to injury."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill increases penalties for swatting offenses under section 609.78 subdivisions 2a and 2c.",
      "modified": [
        "Revises the penalty structure to include increased fines and imprisonment terms."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.78",
    "subdivision": "subdivisions 2a, 2c"
  }
]

Sponsors