Swatting Registry Best Practices Act

Key Points

• This bill asks the Department of Justice to create a set of rules for local governments that want to build swatting registries. Swatting is when someone calls in a fake emergency to trick police into sending an armed team to a person's home. These registries would help police know if a call might be a prank before they arrive.
• People who feel they are at high risk for these hoaxes could sign up for the registry voluntarily. They would provide their address and contact info, and they could even set up a secret code word with the police. If a 9-1-1 call comes in for their home, the dispatcher would see a special alert on their screen.
• The goal is to help police handle these situations more safely. If a call looks like a hoax, officers might try to contact the homeowner first or ask them to step outside instead of breaking down the door. This protects residents, their pets, and the officers from accidental violence during a fake emergency.
• The bill makes it clear that the federal government will not own or run these registries. Instead, it will provide technical help and advice to cities and states that choose to start their own programs. It also requires strict privacy rules to make sure personal information is kept safe and encrypted.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.