The bill amends section 543m of the Michigan penal code regarding terrorist threats and false reports of terrorism. It specifies that a person is guilty of making a terrorist threat or a false report of terrorism if they either threaten to commit an act of terrorism and communicate that threat knowing it would be viewed as threatening violence, or do so with reckless disregard for the substantial risk that the communication would be perceived as a threat. The language has been updated to remove the previous requirement of "either" and replace it with "any," thereby broadening the scope of actions that can lead to prosecution.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that it is not a defense for the accused to claim they did not intend or have the capability to commit the act of terrorism. The penalties for violating this section remain severe, with a felony charge that could result in up to 20 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to $20,000, or both. The amendments are set to take effect 90 days after the bill is enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 750.543