New Tracker Monitors State Legislation to Protect Public Servants Against Threats of Violence, Doxxing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Public Citizen launched a new tracker monitoring the progress of state legislation to protect elected officials.
The tracker reveals that dozens of states have introduced or passed bi-partisan legislation to shield public servants from threats, harassment, doxing, and political violence. The urgency is clear. According to Civic Pulse and the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University, 38% of local officials surveyed reported being harassed within the past three months; 17% report being threatened; and 2% report being physically attacked in connection with their public duties. Nearly three-quarters of local officials say the threat environment is changing the way they serve the public.
“Americans everywhere elect their leaders who should be free to serve the public without fear of threats or actual political violence,” said Aquene Freechild, Co-Director of Public Citizen’s Democracy Campaign. “Attacks on local, state and federal officials across all three branches of government have seen increases in recent years. By passing protections for state and local public officials, state leaders are also protecting the freedom of all voters to choose who governs, and ensure those chosen, can serve.”
Several states have already passed legislation into law this year, including Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Bills to protect officials have passed at least one chamber in California, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington.
- Alabama’s SB 230 allows officials to use campaign funds for security expenses to protect themselves, their families, and their staff.
- Indiana’s SB 140 creates new anti-doxxing protections for public officials.
- Hawaii’s SB 2567 and SB 2568 elevate the offense of harassment when committed against a public servant and establishes a two-year pilot project to authorize public employers to petition for temporary restraining orders and injunctions against employment-related harassment of certain public employees.
- Oklahoma’s HB 3678 addresses publishing the personally identifiable information of public officials, with escalated penalties for repeat offenses and expansions of coverage for municipal and school board officials.
- Minnesota’s HF 4239 restricts the public dissemination of personal identifying information of certain public officials.
- New Mexico’s SB 264 makes it a felony to intimidate election officials in the performance of their duties.
- Tennessee’s HB 2045 authorizes a candidate or officeholder to expend campaign funds of not more than $12,000 per year for residential security.
- Virginia’s HB 835 provides address confidentiality for candidates and elected officials.
Public Citizen’s “Key Elements for Legislation to Protect Public Officials” is available here.