Criminal penalties for swatting increased.

HF 3209 increases criminal penalties for "swatting" in Minnesota, which involves making false emergency calls to trigger police responses to someone's home. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 609.78 to impose harsher punishments: up to life imprisonment if someone dies, up to 15 years for great bodily harm, or up to 3 years for substantial bodily harm. It also adds specific penalties for swatting targeting officials (elected leaders, judges, prosecutors, correctional staff, or police officers), with sentences up to 10 years or $20,000 fines. The changes apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025. This directly affects individuals who make false emergency calls, particularly those causing injury or targeting public officials.