HB78 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Jan 14, 2026

House Bill

Enacted

Current Status

Regular Session 2024

Session

Sponsor

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Phillip Ensler Representative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Crimes and offenses; crime of swatting created; penalties established; jurisdiction provided for; restitution required
Description: Under existing law, it is unlawful for a person to knowingly make a false report or cause the transmission of a false report to a law enforcement agency. A violation is a Class A misdemeanor.
This bill would create the crime of swatting, to provide that it is unlawful for a person to knowingly report, or cause to be reported, false or misleading information regarding a crime or emergency to a law enforcement agency or an emergency service provider under circumstances where the false or misleading information is likely to cause a response from a law enforcement agency or an emergency service provider.
This bill would provide for penalties.
This bill would establish jurisdiction for violations.
This bill would also provide for restitution in certain circumstances.
Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected HB78 INTRODUCED entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the section. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the section.
Subjects: Crimes & Offenses