CS/CS/HB 311 Summary

• Reduces penalty for threatening to throw, project, place, or discharge a destructive device from third degree to second degree felony when threat is sufficient to cause well-founded fear in a reasonable person.

• Prohibits threats to use a firearm or any weapon with intent to do bodily harm or damage to property likely to cause bodily harm, constituting a third degree felony, with exceptions for lawful self-defense or defense of property.

• Reduces penalty for written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily harm, or conduct a mass shooting or terrorism act from third degree to second degree felony when threat is sufficient to cause well-founded fear in a reasonable person.

• Adds new offense of threatening to use a firearm or weapon to Criminal Punishment Code ranking chart and updates related offense severity rankings.

• Effective date: October 1, 2020.