Nebraska senators consider bill to criminalize swatting, which currently is no a recognized offense

Schools across Nebraska have been hit with swatting calls, prompting massive police presences when there’s no actual danger.”This is a nationwide epidemic that’s going on right now,” Sgt. James Shade with Omaha police said. “It’s not different here in Omaha, unfortunately.”Swatting is when someone fakes a threat requiring a law enforcement response. It’s been a problem for years, and it’s getting worse.”It was people trying to call out and just get out of class or get out of a building or just cause some mayhem. It seems to be escalating from that,” Shade said.Swatting is not a recognized offense in Nebraska. Instead, people are charged with false reporting or terroristic threats. LB 1020 would officially criminalize swatting. The bill states it would start as a misdemeanor but could be escalated to a felony.RELATED COVERAGE: Omaha police arrest Omaha Public School student after recent swatting incidentThe crime would become a Class II felony if anyone is seriously hurt or officers threaten to or deploy deadly force. It could then escalate to a Class IB felony if someone dies during the response.”There’s always a risk,” Shade said. “Officers are expediting to get there, people are in a panic, whether that’s trying to flee the area or if they’re in a lockdown.”The bill was introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar, who says laws need to change as crimes advance.”Created by evolving modern technology and changing criminal practices, threats simply did not exist or were not widespread when many of our current statutes were originally drafted,” Bostar said.RELATED COVERAGE: Omaha police investigate swatting incident on UNO’s campusMatt Barrall with the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office said around seven swattings happened in Sarpy County in 2025. He said the calls are dangerous, putting him and his officers at risk.”Someone very easily could have come out of the basement or a bedroom, hearing us breaking into the house and responded legally with a firearm,” Barrall said in his supporting statement.The ACLU of Nebraska is in opposition of the bill. Spike Eickholt said it’s too similar to already established crimes like false reporting or criminal impersonation.”Boosting the penalty, throwing more statutes on the book is just a false assurance to submit to the people that you’re doing something about it,” Eickholt said in his argument.Legislators will continue to debate LB 1020 as the session continues. You can read the entire bill here.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |