I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5590 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for 
communicating threats that target schools. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 
Mr. LAWLER (for himself and Mr. BACON) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties 
for communicating threats that target schools. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Schools Want Account-
ability for Threats Act’’ or the ‘‘SWAT Act’’. 
SEC. 2. THREATS INVOLVING FIRE OR EXPLOSIVES. 
Section 844(e) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘(e)(1)’’; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:42 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5590.IH
H5590
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Whoever violates paragraph (1) by making a 
threat against, or maliciously conveying false information 
with respect to, a public, private, or religious school that 
provides early childhood, elementary, secondary, postsec-
ondary, or career and technical education, as determined 
under State law, shall be imprisoned for not more than 
20 years or fined under this title, or both.’’. 
SEC. 3. THREATS THROUGH THE MAIL OR INTERSTATE 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
Chapter 41 of title 18, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 875 by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) Whoever violates any other provision of this sec-
tion by making a threat against a public, private, or reli-
gious school that provides early childhood, elementary, 
secondary, postsecondary, or career and technical edu-
cation, as determined under State law, shall be imprisoned 
for not more than 20 years or fined under this title, or 
both.’’; and 
(2) in section 876 by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) Whoever violates any other provision of this sec-
tion by making a threat against a public, private, or reli-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:42 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5590.IH
H5590
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
gious school that provides early childhood, elementary, 
secondary, postsecondary, or career and technical edu-
cation, as determined under State law, shall be imprisoned 
for not more than 20 years or fined under this title, or 
both.’’. 
SEC. 4. FALSE INFORMATION AND HOAXES. 
Section 1038(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) if the information indicates that the 
activity has taken, is taking, or will take place 
in a public, private, or religious school that pro-
vides early childhood, elementary, secondary, 
postsecondary, or career and technical edu-
cation, as determined under State law, be fined 
under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 
years, or both.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:42 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5590.IH
H5590
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB