This bill amends the existing law on improper influence by expanding the definition of the offense to include threats made against the immediate family members of public servants, party officials, or voters. Specifically, it introduces new legal language that defines "immediate family member" to include spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or anyone residing in the same household as the public servant, party official, or voter. The bill also establishes mandatory minimum penalties for violations of this offense, including a minimum one-year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine for each individual threatened.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that these mandatory minimum penalties cannot be suspended, deferred, or reduced, and must be served consecutively for multiple victims. It emphasizes that the penalties are in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 640:3
HB1423 text: 640:3