H249 - Economic Terrorism

• Creates the new criminal offense of economic terrorism as a Class H felony when a person willfully commits a criminal offense that impedes business and causes over $1,000 in damages with intent to intimidate the public or influence government through intimidation.

• Establishes civil liability allowing victims of economic terrorism to sue for treble damages (three times actual damages), court costs, and attorneys' fees.

• Creates civil liability for persons convicted of unlawful assembly, riot, or obstructing traffic to reimburse state agencies and political subdivisions for public safety response costs.

• Requires mayors and sheriffs to dispatch law enforcement to clear roads when 10 or more persons unlawfully obstruct traffic as part of a protest or assembly.

• Increases criminal penalties for obstructing traffic during riots or unlawful assemblies from Class 2 misdemeanor to Class A1 misdemeanor and increases trespass penalties to Class 1 misdemeanor for remaining at riots after lawful warning to disperse.