SB 198 Indiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Crime of swatting.

Summary

Specifies that, for purposes of the crime of false informing, hindering a "law enforcement process" includes causing a law enforcement officer to be dispatched. Enhances the penalty for making a false report that a person is dangerous to a Level 6 felony if the offense would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed May 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Bill (H) → Senate Bill (S) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from Senate Bill (H) to Senate Bill (S) with several substantive changes. The most significant change modifies the legal standard for false reporting from causing a person to feel terrorized to 'would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized,' which aligns the language with established legal standards. The bill also received House approval and was amended in the Senate, with updated dates reflecting the legislative timeline through March 20, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on false reporting to law enforcement, but the legal standard for determining when such reports constitute a felony was refined to use an objective 'reasonable person' standard rather than a subjective standard based on the actual feelings of the victim.

DEFINITION

Changed the legal standard for false reporting from causing someone to feel terrorized to 'would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized,' making the determination more objective and consistent with legal precedent.

TIMELINE

Added House action dates showing the bill was read, amended, and passed by the House on February 10-11, 2025, before being referred to the Senate Courts and Criminal Code Committee on March 3, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill identifiers from SB0198.1 to ES0198.1 and changed the digest date from February 4, 2025 to March 19, 2025 to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process.

ELIGIBILITY

Added co-sponsors Freeman, Koch, and Buck with Ireland listed as the House sponsor, indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025 · House Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

47–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 50

Feb 11, 2025

D Democratic10

9 Yea 1 Nay

90% Yea

R Republican40

38 Yea 2

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 1, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President of the Senate

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President Pro Tempore

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 456: yeas 34, nays 0

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 309: yeas 95, nays 0

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 100: yeas 47, nays 1

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report: do pass, adopted

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors