Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens federal tools to deter and punish hoaxes and threats against all types of schools—improving safety and reducing disruptions—while expanding federal criminal jurisdiction in ways that raise costs, risk overcriminalization, and could chill protected or accidental speech.
Students, teachers, and school staff gain stronger federal protection and deterrence against threats and hoaxes, reducing immediate safety risks at schools.
Federal law enforcement and prosecutors can investigate and prosecute cross‑jurisdictional threatening communications, enabling coordinated responses and deterrence across state lines.
All school types (public, private, religious, early childhood through postsecondary and career education) receive explicit federal coverage, closing protection gaps for institutions previously not spelled out in federal law.
Parents, students, and teachers risk federal prosecution for speech, mistakes, or ambiguous posts because broad "malicious/false information" standards could chill lawful expression.
Taxpayers and the federal justice system face higher costs and caseloads as more conduct becomes subject to federal prosecution.
Students and young people could face disproportionately severe penalties—raising maximum sentences to 20 years risks harsh outcomes for non‑credible threats or juvenile speakers unless prosecutors exercise restraint.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Federalizes and raises penalties for threats and false hoaxes about schools, making covered offenses punishable by fines and up to 20 years in prison.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for communicating threats that target schools.
Introduced September 26, 2025 by Michael Lawler · Last progress September 26, 2025
Makes it a federal crime to threaten or to transmit hoaxes about any public, private, or religious school that provides early childhood through postsecondary or career/technical education, and raises the maximum prison term for those covered federal threat and hoax offenses to up to 20 years. The changes amend several federal criminal statutes so threats or false reports about schools — including maliciously conveyed false information and school-targeted hoaxes — are explicitly prosecutable with higher penalties. Applies broadly to threats against all school types as defined under state law and increases statutory maximum sentences for covered threats and hoaxes, while preserving existing fines under Title 18. The bill is narrowly focused on criminal penalties and does not create new grant or administrative programs.