Alabama’s Senate Bill 31, if passed, would bolster laws on terrorist threats, particularly in schools, churches, and government buildings.
The bill expands the definition of “credible threat” to include statements made through various mediums, such as social media, that communicate intent to harm and cause reasonable fear. It increases penalties for first-degree terrorist threats, reclassifying them from a Class C to a Class B felony, and introduces stricter consequences for students accused of making threats.
Under SB31, school principals must notify law enforcement immediately when a threat is suspected, and students charged with making threats face automatic suspension from public schools for at least one year. Convicted students must be expelled and pay restitution, capped at $10,000, for damages and emergency response costs. Parents may also be held financially responsible…