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FLORIDA - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has officially signed a new law targeting “swatting," the act of making false emergency calls that trigger heavy police response.
The move comes as swatting incidents rise across the country, including in Florida, and often involve political or ideological targets.
House Bill 279, signed Wednesday, significantly strengthens penalties for knowingly making fraudulent 911 calls.
Under the new law, if a false emergency report leads to serious injury or disfigurement, the offense becomes a third-degree felony.
If the hoax results in a death, the charge increases to a second-degree felony.
The law also lowers the threshold for felony charges from four offenses to two, and requires offenders to pay for investigation and prosecution costs, as well as restitution for damages.
During a press conference, DeSantis referenced a recent incident involving conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who was allegedly targeted by a swatting call in Tampa. DeSantis claimed such events often have a political undertone.
“We’ve seen swatting used against conservative voices, including here in Florida,” he told Fox News.
Senator Blaise Ingoglia, who sponsored the bill, said the stricter penalties aim to discourage such dangerous behavior.
Senator Tom Wright, a former paramedic, emphasized the risk to communities when emergency resources are misused.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd supported the legislation, pointing to extreme examples of misuse, including a man who falsely claimed a shooting while high on meth and fired dozens of rounds inside his own home.
The law takes effect immediately across the state.