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Bill

H 2015

An Act relative to false reporting of an emergency

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chynah Tyler

Massachusetts bill establishing penalties for false emergency reports to clarify statutes and deter costly, dangerous misuse of 911 and emergency services.

Hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 2015

Legislative bill overview

H.2015 addresses penalties and legal consequences for individuals who make false emergency reports to law enforcement or emergency services. The bill aims to clarify definitions, establish proportionate penalties, and potentially distinguish between different types of false reporting (such as swatting, hoax bomb threats, or other emergency system misuse).

Why is this important

False emergency reports waste critical public resources, divert emergency responders from genuine emergencies, and can endanger lives. Recent high-profile incidents of "swatting" (calling armed police to someone's address as harassment) and other false reports have highlighted gaps in existing statutes. Clarifying penalties ensures consistent enforcement and provides appropriate deterrence.

Potential points of contention

  • Penalty severity: Determining whether penalties should escalate based on response costs, false report type, or harm caused, versus applying uniform penalties
  • Burden of proof: Questions about what evidence is required to prove intent to deceive versus accidentally triggering emergency response protocols
  • Free speech concerns: Defining false reporting narrowly enough to avoid chilling legitimate reporting while still punishing malicious behavior
  • Mental health considerations: Whether individuals experiencing mental health crises making false reports should face same penalties as intentional fraudsters

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

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