Florida is cracking down on “swatting” with new legislation that makes the dangerous prank a felony offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison if the false emergency call results in death.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 279, creating felony charges for “swatting” calls that result in serious injury or death
- False 911 reports leading to death will now be prosecuted as 2nd Degree Felonies, while those causing serious injury will be 3rd Degree Felonies
- The law requires offenders to pay restitution to law enforcement agencies and victims for resources wasted during response
- DeSantis also signed legislation enhancing school safety measures, including expanding the Guardian Program to allow trained staff to carry firearms
- Florida is positioning itself as a national leader in combating swatting, which DeSantis described as “a tactic of cowards” used for political harassment
New Penalties Target Dangerous “Swatting” Calls
In a move to protect both public safety and law enforcement resources, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation on May 21 creating serious consequences for individuals who make false emergency calls. House Bill 279 expands upon a 2021 law by establishing a tiered system of felony charges based on the outcome of the false report. The new law makes swatting that leads to death a 2nd Degree Felony, while cases resulting in serious injury will be prosecuted as 3rd Degree Felonies. Repeat offenders will face enhanced charges, and all perpetrators must pay restitution to compensate victims and reimburse law enforcement agencies for wasted resources.
DeSantis emphasized that these false reports waste critical public safety resources while putting innocent citizens at risk. “It’s taking resources and time and manpower away from actually doing the job that we want our law enforcement and first responders to do,” said DeSantis
Protecting Schools and Communities
During the same signing ceremony in Polk County, DeSantis approved Senate Bill 1470, which strengthens school safety measures across Florida. The legislation expands the state’s Guardian Program, allowing properly trained school staff to carry firearms on campus to protect students during potential emergencies. The bill also authorizes childcare facilities to partner with local sheriff’s offices for security training and revises access control requirements for school campuses, including specific protocols for doors, gates, and other entry points. Additionally, the law mandates that security agencies employing school guards cover all training and screening costs.
“Swatting is a tactic of cowards who use fake reports to law enforcement to harass people who they disagree with politically. Today, Florida gets even tougher on swatting. I signed HB 279 which introduces felony charges for individuals who make false 911 reports that result in significant harm. If you try this in our state, you will face punishment,” stated Ron DeSantis
The third bill signed into law, HB 1099, provides law enforcement officers with greater discretion when arresting individuals with significant health conditions. This measure aims to ensure appropriate handling of special cases while maintaining public safety. “We want to make sure we’re protecting the police officers as they’re doing jobs in very difficult circumstances,” said DeSantis
It was great to join @GovRonDeSantis as he signed important legislation to expand school safety measures and to increase the penalties for swatting. Florida leads the nation in establishing smart, effective school safety measures and I am thankful for the Governor’s continued… pic.twitter.com/qpzDwZ130j
— Manny Diaz Jr. (@CommMannyDiazJr) May 21, 2025
Confronting Political Disputes
The signing ceremony took place amid controversy surrounding an investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation, an initiative led by Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis. Governor DeSantis staunchly defended the foundation and his wife, characterizing the investigation as politically motivated. The dispute has highlighted tensions between DeSantis and State Representative Alex Andrade, previously an ally of the governor. DeSantis publicly criticized Andrade for providing evidence against Hope Florida to a prosecutor, referring to him as a “jackass” during the press conference.
“She has led an initiative to help people, and you have one jackass in the legislature, I’m sorry, it’s true, who’s trying to smear her, smear good people,” said DeSantis
The confrontation highlights the increasingly tense political environment, which ironically relates to the swatting legislation, as DeSantis emphasized that swatting incidents are often politically motivated attacks against public officials and citizens. Florida’s new law establishes it as a national leader in addressing this dangerous practice, which has targeted numerous conservative figures across the country, including prominent journalists and elected officials. The legislation reflects a growing recognition of how technology is enabling new forms of harassment that require specific legal remedies to protect public safety and prevent waste of critical emergency resources.
