--- title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1181.1. Terroristic threat or acts against a school; penalty. collection: code id: 20-2-1181.1 cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1181.1 (2025) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1181.1 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1181.1.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1181.1/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2b-(v17)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=bfd7f2d1_0#page=273 date: 2025 status: active corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68 license: CC0-1.0 publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1181.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1182.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md version: the only printed version in_force: true current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / LOITERING AT OR DISRUPTING SCHOOLS --- # O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1181.1. Terroristic threat or acts against a school; penalty. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) “Hazardous substance” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 12-8-92. (2) “Weapon” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 16-5-44.1. Such term shall include, but shall not be limited to, each item included in paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-127.1. (b) A person commits the offense of a terroristic threat of a school when he or she threatens to commit any crime of violence, release any hazardous substance, or burn or damage property and such threat is made: (1) With the purpose of terrorizing another who at the time of such threat is physically present: (A) On public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; (B) On a school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or (C) At a public or private school sponsored activity; (2) With the purpose of causing the evacuation of: (A) Public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; or (B) A school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or (3) In reckless disregard of the risk of causing the terror or evacuation described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection; provided, however, that no person shall be convicted under this subsection based on the uncorroborated testimony of the party to whom the threat is communicated. (c) A person commits the offense of a terroristic act upon a school when he or she commits an act of using a weapon or flaming symbol or flambeau, releasing any hazardous substance or any simulated hazardous substance under the guise of a hazardous substance, or, while not in the commission of a lawful act, shooting at a conveyance which is being operated or which is occupied by passengers and such act is committed: (1) With the purpose of terrorizing another who at the time of such act is physically present: (A) On public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; (B) On a school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or (C) At a public or private school sponsored activity; or (2) With the purpose of causing the evacuation of: (A) Public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; or (B) A school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students. (d)(1) A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic threat of a school shall be punished as for a misdemeanor; provided, however, that, if the threat suggested the death of any person, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both; and provided, further, that, if any person suffers a serious physical injury as a direct result of a threat giving rise to a conviction under subsection (b) of this Code section, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250,000.00, imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 40 years, or both. (2) A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic act upon a school shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000.00, imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years, or both; provided, however, that, if any person suffers a serious physical injury as a direct result of an act giving rise to a conviction under subsection (c) of this Code section, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250,000.00, imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 40 years, or both. ## History Code 1981, § 20-2-1181.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 99, § 3-5/HB 268, effective April 28, 2025. ## Cross References Other terroristic threats or acts and penalties, § 16-11-37. ## Effective Date This Code section became effective April 28, 2025.