INDIANAPOLIS– The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee has advanced Senate Bill 198 (SB 198) to combat the dangerous practice of “swatting.” Sponsored by Representative Andrew Ireland, the bill clarifies and strengthens penalties for making false reports that lead to law enforcement responses.
Senator Aaron Freeman, the bill’s author, presented SB 198 to the committee, explaining that the legislation seeks to address the serious consequences of swatting. This crime involves making false reports to trigger a large-scale police response, often resulting in fear and terror for the victims.
The bill clarifies that “hindering a law enforcement process” under the crime of false informing includes actions that cause a law enforcement officer to be dispatched. Crucially, it also enhances the penalty for making a false report that a person is dangerous, elevating it to a Level 6 felony if the offense causes a person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened.
The committee amended the bill by consent, specifying that the sentencing enhancement applies if the act would cause a “reasonable person” to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened, providing a more objective standard.
The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council testified in strong support of the bill, emphasizing the need to protect communities from the harmful effects of swatting.
The amended SB 198 received unanimous approval from the committee, passing with a 13-0 vote.
This legislation represents a significant step towards holding individuals accountable for the dangerous and disruptive crime of swatting. The full text of the bill can be found at the Indiana General Assembly website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/198.
