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HB 5300

AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 4 co-sponsors

HB 5300 - AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION OverviewBill Number: HB 5300 Title: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION Status:

06/26/2025 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 5300

HB 5300 - AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION

Overview

Bill Number: HB 5300
Title: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION
Status: 05/02/2025 Referred to Senate Judiciary
Introduced: March 14, 2025

Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of HB 5300 is to strengthen laws against criminal threats and extortion. The bill aims to provide law enforcement and prosecutors with more effective tools to address these types of offenses, which can have serious emotional, financial, and physical impacts on victims.

Key Provisions

  • Expands the definition of criminal threats to include threats made through electronic communication, in addition to in-person or written threats
  • Increases the penalties for making criminal threats, with higher fines and potential jail time depending on the severity of the threat
  • Establishes new criminal offenses for extortion, including extortion through the use of electronic communication or by threatening to expose personal information
  • Allows victims of criminal threats or extortion to seek civil damages against the perpetrator, in addition to any criminal penalties

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Victims of criminal threats and extortion will have enhanced legal protections and recourse, potentially leading to more successful prosecutions and restitution
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors will have stronger tools to investigate and charge these types of offenses
  • Individuals who make criminal threats or engage in extortion will face increased penalties, including the possibility of jail time and civil liability

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

HB 5300 was introduced in the state legislature on March 14, 2025 and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration. If passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor, the new provisions would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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