House Bill 1074

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-7-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR TERRORISTIC THREATS MADE AGAINST AN AIRPORT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-7-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-7-75. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Terroristic Threats Law."

(2) (a) A person commits the offense of making a terroristic threat when the person makes a threat to commit a crime of violence or a threat to cause bodily injury to another person if the threat does in fact cause a reasonable expectation or reasonable fear of the imminent commission of an offense and if, in making the threat, the person has the intent to:

(i) Intimidate or coerce a civilian population or segment of a civilian population; or

(ii) Influence or affect, by intimidation or coercion, the policy or conduct of a unit of government, educational institution, business or segment of the civilian population.

(b) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that, at the time the defendant made the terroristic threat, the defendant did not have the intent or capability to actually commit the specified offense, nor is it a defense that the threat was not made to a person who was a subject or intended victim of the threatened act.

(3) (a) A person convicted of the offense of making a terroristic threat is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for not more than ten (10) years.

(b) A person convicted of the offense of making a terroristic threat shall be guilty of a felony and punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections up to fifteen (15) years.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.